06/01/2026
Today, we want to honor Palutena.
She had a family.
Not in the form of humans… at least not that we know of. She was a stray and no family came looking for her. But she did have a family - of dogs.
She came into the shelter with Ash and Sebastian - along with her 6 newborn puppies.
Last week, she was given a deadline because she was scared. Just like many we save. Just like Ash. Just like Sebastian.
Her puppies were safe.
But her life was not.
Yesterday, her deadline came and went. Nobody stepped up for her.
As a foster-based rescue, we can only save lives when people open their homes.
We understand the heartbreaking reality that we cannot save them all.
But sometimes, we still try.
This morning, we tried. Even without a foster in place. Why?
Because we had already saved members of her family - and we believe family shouldn’t get left behind.
We even decided to change her name to Ohana.
A nod to the beloved Disney movie:
“Ohana means family. Family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten.”
But when we logged on early this morning to submit her pull request, she was already off the portal.
A frantic attempt was made to save her life. An email was sent. A pull request was submitted.
But we were too late.
She was already gone.
It’s one thing to accept that you can’t save them all.
It’s another thing entirely when you try to save them.
Our hearts are incredibly heavy today.
We wanted to make sure she wasn’t left behind.
We weren’t able to do that.
But we can make certain she isn’t forgotten.
We want to urge people to take euthanasia deadlines seriously. Rescues across the valley are overwhelmed yet this kind of heartbreak is unbearable.
Especially since after the fact, we learned there was someone willing to foster her. #
Like us, they were simply too late.
As we mourn Ohana together, we ask that you keep her in your thoughts today.
Remember her.
Speak her name.
Let her story matter.
And while we still haven’t been able to recover Sebastian, we can only hope that from above, Ohana is watching over him.
Run free, sweet girl.
You mattered.
And you will not be forgotten. 💔🐾