n the summer of 2023, a tan-and-white pit bull named Patience received the exciting news that she’d been adopted. After a long stint at her New Jersey-based animal shelter, Patience couldn’t wait to have a family.
But sadly, more than a year after being adopted, someone found Patience wandering the city streets of New Jersey in November 2024, seemingly injured and alone. When they returned her to the shelter, the once-hopeful girl’s emotional and neurological injuries intensified.
Instead of greeting people at her kennel door, Patience would retreat to the corner of her suite and face the wall with her head down.
The shelter staff were devastated by Patience’s demeanor. When they posted a picture of Patience in her kennel online as a call for help, a foster-based rescue focused on special-needs animals quickly stepped in.
“Sometimes, when you see a dog, you know they need to be part of the rescue,” Maddie Weiser of Special Needs Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation Northeast (SNARR Northeast) told The Dodo. “Patience was one of them. When one of our team members saw her, she knew she needed to save her.”
The SNARR Northeast team swiftly tapped into their network of helpers, and within just a few days, they’d located the perfect foster home for the sweet girl.
On December 22, 2024, Patience’s dreams finally came true. A member of SNARR Northeast arrived to bust her out of her kennel once and for all — and she couldn’t have been more excited.
“Patience was so happy!” Weiser said. “She truly turned into a new dog. She loves human affection, cuddles, and is very thankful to be in a warm and safe home.”
Thanks to SNARR Northeast’s diligent work, Patience spent the holiday season with a loving family instead of alone in her kennel.
You can watch Patience’s release from the shelter here:
It’s been a few weeks since Patience left the shelter, and she couldn’t be happier. While Patience’s foster family focuses on showering her with love each day, the folks at SNARR Northeast are working tirelessly to get to the bottom of her physical and neurological ailments.
There’s no way to know for sure what happened to her before being found last November, but her symptoms point to a devastating accident.
“We’re still figuring out what’s going on with our girl,” Weiser said. “She was diagnosed with a spinal injury, possibly from being hit by a car, that is causing some of the symptoms we are noticing. She is fully blind and can only see right in front of her; she has no peripheral vision. She will be seeing our neurologist shortly for a more in-depth and specialized vet visit.”
Still, Patience’s atypical symptoms aren’t what make her unique. Since being fostered, she’s come out of her shell, revealing a quirky and playful personality not previously seen.
“There’s a lot that makes Patience special, not only from a neurological standpoint,” Weiser said. “She is goofy and loves to play with her mouth. It’s how she shows affection. She pushes your arm with her mouth to say, ‘Hi.’”
It’s hard to believe that a girl as sweet and beautiful as Patience could’ve ever been abandoned, and it’s heartbreaking to see her reaction to being returned to the shelter. But these days, Patience doesn’t have time to focus on the heartache — she’s too busy enjoying life to the fullest.
The folks at SNARR Northeast are waiting on a complete diagnosis before placing Patience up for adoption. Until then, the resilient girl will continue living her best life with her foster family.
“Patience is the sweetest, happiest, most grateful dog,” Weiser said.
