When Brooke Morosca traveled to New Orleans for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour in October 2024, she planned to exchange friendship bracelets with fellow concertgoers. The trip, however, turned out to be more than a celebration of friendship: It led her to finding
her future best friend.
On her way to the Airbnb she and a group of close friends and family booked for the trip, Morosca noticed a yellow Labrador lying in the middle of the road. Morosca could see the dog was covered in dirt and fleas, so she got out of the rental car to check on her.
Soon after, a black dog emerged from the bushes. He was extremely thin and clearly struggling.
“They were super sweet right off the bat,” Morosca told The Dodo. “But I was definitely concerned about their appearances.”
Morosca provided the dogs with food and water, and they followed her to the nearby Airbnb.
The pair slept on the porch during all four nights of her stay.
The pups were playful yet nervous. They startled easily. But as the days progressed, the small black pup warmed up to Morosca. She'll never forget the moment she was petting him on the porch and he leaned his head into her hand and closed his eyes.
“I saw his whole body relax,” Morosca said. “It was a really big breakthrough moment.”
From then on, Morosca knew she wanted to take him home but needed to find out if he already had a family. She asked around locally and contacted her Airbnb host but didn’t get much information. So, on the last day of her stay, she decided to bring the pair to a shelter in Louisiana called Jefferson Protection and Animal Welfare Services (JPAWS).
There, she learned about the pups’ complicated custody situation. They were victims of an ongoing neglect case. Until everything got sorted out, they’d be placed on an intake hold.
Morosca had to return home to Florida, but she didn’t give up on the dogs. She called the shelter every day for a month. After four months of waiting, the black pup she'd bonded with became available for adoption. So Morosca hopped in the car and drove 12 hours.
When she first reunited with the dog, whom she named Rhysand, she barely recognized him. The once malnourished pup had gained 30 pounds thanks to the care of the staff at the shelter. Rhysand quickly felt comfortable in his new home. He developed a penchant for stuffed toys, soft blankets and cuddling on the couch with Morosca.
“He’s my soul dog,” Morosca said. “I can’t even imagine if I didn’t find him.”
That said, she couldn’t get his buddy, the yellow Lab, off her mind. “I always felt like I failed her,” she said. The pup was heartworm positive and not yet available for adoption.
One night in July, five months after she adopted Rhysand, she had a hunch to check the shelter’s website. The first dog listed for adoption was the yellow pup. Morosca dropped everything and drove to Louisiana to rescue her.
However, she didn’t have the capacity to permanently take in another dog. One of her friends, Giulia Carlton, took an interest in the yellow Lab after learning about her story. She and her fiancé, Harry, adopted the pup, naming her Crumpet. “They fell in love with her,” Morosca said. “She fits into their lives so wonderfully.”
Crumpet lives just 15 minutes away from Morosca and Rhysand, which means the pups have playdates frequently. They even celebrated their birthdays together. “Rhys knows exactly when we’re going to their apartment,” Morosca said. “He just gets so hyper and excited.”
In February, Rhysand gained another companion. When a stray cat appeared on the patio of his home, he was drawn to her. He’d look at her through the glass door and bring her toys. The kitty showed up every day. Together, they’d lie on opposite sides of the door.
Morosca decided to take the cat to the vet and, later, brought her inside. After the stray kitty — now called Feyre — received the care she needed and took time to decompress, Morosca introduced her to Rhysand. “They became extremely fast friends,” she said. Now, Feyre is the latest addition to their family.
Morosca hopes Rhysand’s story inspires others to get involved with helping animals in need. She thinks that strays, like Rhysand, Crumpet and Feyre, deserve a chance.
“They’re so loving,” she said.
