Earlier this year, an unprecedented cold front swept across Texas in a historic deep freeze. While most residents worried about keeping their homes warm during the frigid few weeks, some locals, like Zuly Ventura Vasquez, could only think about the helpless
stray dogs with nowhere to go.
So, Vasquez and her fellow independent rescuers took to the streets to save as many homeless pups as possible before the weather became unbearable. It was during one of these missions that Vasquez encountered a stray dog doing something that instantly broke her heart.
“She was wrapped around her puppy and was extremely skinny,” Tory Shulman, the dog’s foster mom, told The Dodo. “[Vasquez] knew the mama and the puppy didn’t stand a chance in the cold.”
The emaciated mama dog was curled around a single white puppy, whose head poked out from beneath her belly. Without skipping a beat, Vasquez called Houston K-911 Rescue, and they immediately agreed to take in both dogs.
It was clear that the mama dog, later named Leia, had been the sole provider for her puppy, Luke, on the streets. But after being rescued, she was far from alone. The photo of her protecting Luke went viral online, and people from across the country became determined to help them.
One Colorado-based organization, Up Pup and Away, was stunned by the photo of Leia and Luke. They offered to transfer the pair from Texas to Colorado and help them find forever homes. So, after receiving heartworm treatment at K-911, Leia and Luke set off to Colorado, and they soon met the sweetest families that would change their lives.
Since Luke was old enough to be independent from his mother, the two went to separate foster homes in Colorado. Luke’s foster family fell head over heels within minutes of meeting him, and they quickly decided to adopt. And Leia went to Shulman, who was just as smitten with the resilient girl.
“As I saw the picture, I knew I would be fostering Leia,” Shulman said. “She was shy but incredibly sweet.”
It took Leia a little while to adjust to her new apartment life, getting used to the slippery floors and elevators. But with Shulman’s love and support, Leia learned how to conquer her fears and began riding elevators “like a pro.” Then, at the end of each day, she would curl up alongside Shulman for some affection.
“She gained weight and started to ask for belly rubs all the time and loved to sleep,” Shulman said. “It's almost like she never got any rest in the wild.”
Leia’s personality began to blossom with Shulman. She eventually had to change foster homes since Shulman went away for a bit, but she quickly adjusted to her new environment and an 8-year-old dog sibling.
“[A]fter a neutral pack walk, she was fine and kept wanting to play with the other dog,” Shulman said. “[S]he was super comfortable."
Leia is still in her second foster home, hoping to find a forever family soon. While the perfect person has yet to come along, Leia still has an entire community that cares for her.
“I visit her often, and we go on long hikes with her new foster mom and her dog,” Shulman said. “[S]he is so grateful for a warm home.“
Shulman hopes to see Leia land a forever home soon, one where the sweet girl — who’s still learning to socialize with other dogs — will be fully understood and accepted. Her interactions with other dogs can still be unpredictable, but Leia has an undeniably special personality, and Shulman knows it’s only a matter of time before someone falls head over heels for her, too.
“She is a wonderful dog who will be so lovable,” Shulman said. “She will forever be a protective mama who was saved and will never be cold again.”
