Boogie was running out of time. Alone in a shelter and struggling with kennel cough, he had been placed on the euthanasia list. His condition was worsening, and the shelter was overwhelmed. If no one came for him soon, his time would be up. But then, a lifeline arrived — and everything changed.
Image Credit from YouTube video
PupStar Ella and For Love Haven Rescue reached out, hoping someone could pull Boogie from the list before it was too late. That’s when a woman stepped in and offered to foster him. “Let’s do it,” she said. “I’m game. I’ll foster this dog.”
When she arrived to pick him up, Boogie was more than ready to leave. From the moment he climbed into her car, he stayed right by her side — standing in the passenger seat as if he already knew he’d found safety. Despite his illness, despite the smell from his breath and the obvious discomfort he was in, she was overcome with love. “I wanted nothing more than to hug him and kiss him and give him the warmest bath when we got home.”
And that’s exactly what she did. After getting Boogie settled in Marina del Rey, they visited the vet. What had originally been diagnosed as kennel cough turned out to be pneumonia — along with a host of other health issues. Boogie’s road to recovery would be long. He needed constant care, medication, and patience. For three months, they stuck to a strict medication schedule. Every day was a step forward, and she never gave up on him.
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Boogie, in turn, blossomed. He began to show who he truly was — a loving, joyful soul who adored life. He loved the beach. He loved swimming. He loved simply being by her side. “He is just so in love with life,” she said.
But there were still questions that lingered. Where had Boogie come from? Why was he abandoned? When she asked one of the volunteers at the shelter, they had no answers — only that Boogie was friendly with other dogs. There was no known history, no former owner stepping forward. Nothing but a blank past.
Still, the woman who rescued him had a theory. Boogie showed no signs of abuse. He was gentle, affectionate, and seemed to particularly love older people. “My guess is that he was with a pair of grandparents that maybe passed away, and their family didn’t want him,” she said quietly. It’s a heartbreaking possibility, but one that made her even more determined to make his future brighter.
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As time passed, their bond deepened. She had intended to foster Boogie — to give him a safe place to heal and then find him a forever home. But as Christmas neared, she realized that Boogie was already home. “I realized I couldn’t let him go,” she admitted. And so, she adopted him.
Boogie entered her life at a time when she needed light, too. He offered unconditional love and support, silently staying close during difficult days. “He’s really been the unconditional love and support without even speaking, essentially.”
The transformation has been nothing short of extraordinary. To see a dog once only hours from euthanasia now thriving — happy, healthy, and loved — is the reward she never expected. “It’s been an absolute journey to have seen a dog that came to me on the brink… to now seeing him thrive and flourish… it’s the most rewarding thing I could ever ask for.”
Image Credit from YouTube video
Boogie’s story is more than a rescue tale. It’s about second chances. It’s about seeing value in those who are often overlooked. And it’s about the kind of love that saves not just dogs, but the humans who choose them.
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This content was created with AI assistance and edited by the iHeartDogs team.
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