Three dogs faced euthanasia when their owner fell into a coma. A stranger changed their destiny

If tragedy is to be dealt with, it must go hand in hand with kindness. The only way out of a traumatic challenge is to conquer it with support, an open heart and an open door to your home. On a normal day in San Antonio, the lives of three Labrador mixes took a turn towards loneliness when their owner met with an accident by a pick-up truck while going about her jogging routine in mid-October. As reported by The Washington Post, the dog mom of Jeter, Pauly and Snowy, was admitted to the hospital after her tragic accident and since then she has been battling a medically induced coma. The City of San Antonio Animal Care Services received a call about three dogs that were being “neglected."

Lisa Norwood, a public relations manager at the City of San Antonio Animal Care Services, shared, “A complaint was made to the shelter, indicating that there was a trio of dogs that were apparently being neglected.” She further added that an investigator went to the house and discovered that the dogs had been “on their own for a few days.” The shelter spoke to the dog mom’s neighbors and they were informed that they had been trying their best to take care of the dogs.

The staff confirmed the woman’s medical status and prognosis from the hospital and Norwood said, “She was in such a state that she was not going to be coming home any time soon.” When the neighbors informed them that they would not be able to “take in the dogs”, the shelter tried getting in touch with the owner’s sister, who also turned down the custody of her sister’s dogs. After almost a week of living at the shelter, posting about the dogs on the shelter’s website and a final adoption and fostering appeal on Facebook on October 31, the overpopulated shelter had no choice but to euthanize the dogs in a few days.

Norwood described, “These guys were very scared. They’re their own little pack and one of the members of the pack is gone all of a sudden. We never want to euthanize an animal; that is never the end goal.” She also said that the shelter kept their fingers crossed for somebody to volunteer and take the dogs in while their mother recovered. Finally, one animal lover and enthusiast did come forward after seeing the shelter’s Facebook post. Missy Brown, a disabled veteran and resident of San Antonio, stepped up. She shared with KENS5, “Every dog owner is just one crisis away from needing someone to help care for their dogs. I'm just happy that I was in a position to help."

She explained that since no one had “shown an interest” in the scared, furry beings, she felt, “'We could try! Why wouldn’t I help? I have the opportunity to avoid a tragedy and alleviate some suffering when their owner does recover," reported the Washington Post. Norwood shared that even though the Facebook post was widely shared, there were only a handful of people who volunteered to take the dogs in, but finally only Brown went through with her offer. Brown and her teenage daughter have fostered 28 animals this year and she feels that it’s given her “a purpose” and “added value” to her life. She also revealed that she had faced a similar medical crisis two years ago and it was her sister and neighbors who then stepped up to help take care of her dogs. She explained, “I can’t imagine going through something as traumatic as being hit by a car while doing something you do every day and coming home and you no longer have your companions.”

The furry trio, which was set to be euthanized soon, was taken home by Brown on Friday. “It’s been really heartwarming to see them warm up to me. They’re sweet dogs. They clearly were loved,” shared Brown. While the shelter is covering the cost of food, supplies and vet services, Norwood says that “true healing happens at home.” She said, “The only two things we ask of our fosters is to open your heart and open your home.” The furry three are now being taken care of lovingly and they can wait patiently for their mom to recover and come out of coma. Brown’s initiative has spread the message of opening up our hearts and homes when someone finds themselves totally alone.