Sick Rescue Dog's Incredible Transformation After Adoption Is Everything

Kelsey McDonough has always felt a strong connection to dogs — especially abandoned ones — and as the founder of McDonough Rescue, she spends much of her time trying to find forever homes for shelter dogs in Los Angeles. When she first spotted Ivy at Western Riverside Shelter, she knew she had to act. It was over 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the kennel, and Ivy's kennel mate was preventing her from getting any food. Sickly and dehydrated, Ivy weighed just 37 pounds. "Ivy was deteriorating really rapidly. I noticed she was dry heaving and throwing up, and that's when I noticed that she was throwing up blood," McDonough told The Dodo. But, somehow, this sweet dog still managed to make eye contact and wag her tail. 

McDonough took Ivy home, then to the vet, where the sick dog was diagnosed with pneumonia and given medication. "She was really shut down for the first couple days, but she still just wanted attention so badly. We just started the process of her healing," McDonough said. Many commenters expressed concern over how bad the conditions were at the animal shelter, along with distress at the shelter's failure to provide adequate food, proper medical care, and safe living conditions for Ivy. "Frankly, I find it disgraceful that they left her to suffer," Karendeabreu9022 wrote. 

Luckily, with food, love, and medicine, Ivy thrived under McDonough's care. The sickly shelter dog transformed into a happy and healthy creature, ready to find her forever home. 

Matt and Ash, a couple from North Carolina, saw Ivy online and instantly fell in love with the adorable pup. After Matt flew to California to meet Ivy, the couple came back to pick up the dog and do a cross-country drive from California to North Carolina to take Ivy to her new home. 

"I was smiling through tears the whole time. The road trip, the cuddles, the licks — this is the definition of a happy ending. Much love to Ivy and her new family! 🐶💕," PetVibesshow commented on The Dodo video. "The way Ivy went from completely shut down to full of love and playfulness... dogs are truly the most resilient souls. So happy she found her people! 🥹✨," wrote MeowEmpire-t1f. Ivy is now living her best life in North Carolina in a household that includes one other dog and two cats. 

Shelter surrender is far worse for a dog than you probably thought, causing stress, fear, anxiety, and unpleasant behaviors such as loud barking in many animals. Shelter dogs may pick up illnesses such as kennel cough (canine infectious respiratory disease complex) and ringworm (a type of fungal disease). The shelter dogs who take the longest to adopt tend to be older, larger, and darker in color. However, like Ivy, these dogs have much love to give. They just need to find the right family to give them a chance.