05/26/2026
When Vivian first arrived at Henderson County Animal Services Center, her condition told a heartbreaking story. Willingly surrendered by her previous owner who could no longer care for her, Vivian had spent most of her time living in a crate outside. She was suffering from severe matting so extensive that staff initially couldn't tell if she was a boy or a girl.
After being completely shaved down, we brought a very timid and fragile Vivian to our Adoption Center. She was quickly placed into a foster home so that she could decompress and begin healing in a gentle environment.
At the same time, Wendy was grieving the loss of her beloved dog Lola. Heartbroken and missing the companionship that she had shared with Lola, Wendy began searching online for a dog who needed a home. She trusted that when the right dog came along, she would know.
Then she saw Vivian.
After speaking with our team, Wendy set up a meeting with Vivian's foster at our Adoption Center. "The second the foster carried her inside, I knew she was my girl," Wendy shared.
Vivian immediately connected with Wendy's daughter, following her into the yard and attempting to play despite how weak and emaciated she still was. "She began running around in the yard and [Vivian] was trying to chase her," Wendy said, "but she kept falling over."
As Vivian settled into her new home, Wendy continued to treat her with a special medicated mousse to help with her skin irritation. That's when her daughter had the perfect idea for a new name: Moose!
Today, Moose is almost unrecognizable from the dog who first arrived in our care. She has gained nearly 10 pounds, her fur is growing back beautifully, and she's learning to enjoy all the comforts of family life - including snuggling up on the bed with Wendy.
"The second I saw her, I knew she needed me as much as I needed her," Wendy shared.
Moose's journey is a reminder of the incredible transformations that can happen when an animal is given patience, compassion, and a little love. 💙
(Image Description: On the left, an image of a black and white dog with very long, matted fur. On the right, an image of the same dog with much shorter fur sitting with a woman in the grass)
