Meet Amarillo: a resilient dog who refuses to let the past define her.
Last month, animal officers in Syracuse, New York, found Amarillo living alone in an apartment, abandoned by her previous owner. Rescuers coordinated the pup’s transfer to Friends Forever
Animal Rescue and sent photos of Amarillo to her new caretakers.
When rescue team members received the photos, their jaws dropped. Something was clearly wrong — Amarillo was bright yellow.
“We were shocked and stunned,” Friends Forever Animal Rescue wrote in a Facebook post. “Why was she yellow? What is that?”
The color was too extreme to be dander, so rescuers made a list of other theories. Could it be highlighter? Dye? Ramen noodle seasoning? Whatever the case, rescuers knew they had to remove it.
Aside from being yellow, Amarillo was extremely dehydrated, with overgrown nails and generally poor health. Despite everything, she radiated warmth.
“She was incredibly happy and affectionate,” rescue founder Casey Newton-McLaren told The Dodo. “She was eager to climb into the arms of anyone willing to give her attention and love.
It took seven baths for the yellow to fade, and the color finally disappeared during the 16th bath. At last, Amarillo looked like a normal dog again.
“Today, Amarillo looks amazing,” Newton-McLaren said. “She has gained weight, her coat is healthy and shiny, and although you can still see a small amount of yellow peeking through in places, it no longer defines what you see when you look at her.”
Now, Amarillo is looking for a family who will love her as much as she’ll love them.
“She does well with children, dogs, cats and just about everything in between,” Newton-McLaren said. “She is an active little girl and would love a family that includes her in their activities. A fenced yard isn’t required, but she certainly enjoys her daily walks and adventures.”
Rescuers can’t wait until Amarillo finds her happy ending.
“More than anything, Amarillo deserves commitment,” Newton-McLaren said. “She deserves a family that sees the beauty in her, cherishes her, and understands that bringing her home means promising that this time, nobody is going to leave her behind. She is truly one of the most incredible dogs we have ever had come through our adoption program, and after everything she has endured, she deserves nothing less than the absolute best life has to offer.”
