One of the most heartbreaking sights is seeing adopted dogs returned to the shelter, their sad, disappointed faces enough to bring tears to anyone’s eyes.
Sadly, this happens all too often, and the pup in today’s story was no exception.
Lola was returned to the shelter not once, but twice, all within the first seven months of her life.
Determined to win over her next family, Lola made sure to leave a lasting impression—and she did exactly that.
Third Time’s The Charm
Source: Christina Antonucci via The Dodo
While browsing a pet rescue website, a woman named Cristina Antonucci was immediately drawn to Lola’s beautiful black-and-white face.
The pup reminded her of her childhood dog, an English Bull Terrier mix, and she knew she had to meet her in person.
“I remember seeing her sad eyes in the photo and just knew I had to bring her home. She came in with her foster mom, and she was the sweetest little thing—she sat on my feet right away and looked up at me,” Cristina told The Dodo.
Lola’s first adoption happened when she was just a small pup. A teenager took her in and named her Gucci Rose, but eventually returned her to the shelter. Her second adoption ended the same way—her new owner, with no prior experience caring for a dog, struggled to meet her needs.
After learning about Lola’s difficult past, Cristina knew there was no turning back. She was determined to give this sweet pup the loving home she had always deserved.
Source: Christina Antonucci via The Dodo
The moment Lola arrived at her new home, she wasted no time showing Cristina just how much she appreciated being rescued.
“The first night I brought her home, she just lay on top of me for hours, hugging me,” Cristina shared. “I was surprised by how quickly she warmed up to me, considering we had only spent the car ride home together. It was like she was just so grateful, which is why I knew I could never let her down.”
Source: Christina Antonucci via The Dodo
New Life
Unfortunately, Lola’s past experiences left a lasting impact, leading her to develop some troublesome habits.
Thankfully, her new parents understood her struggles and remained patient with her from the very beginning.
“We had challenges with her digging in the backyard and trying to get through the fence to play with the neighbor’s dog. It definitely tested our patience, but we knew that if we didn’t have the patience, no one else would,” Cristina said.
Source: Christina Antonucci via The Dodo
Even through the challenging moments, Cristina remained grateful for Lola, who had taught her valuable life lessons along the way.
“Lola has definitely taught me patience and persistence. You can’t just give up, no matter the challenges. No one is perfect,” Cristina added.
Fortunately, Lola’s digging phase didn’t last long. She soon took on a new role as the backyard’s official possum patroller.
Another big change in her life was the arrival of her new baby brother, Lenny.
Source: Christina Antonucci via The Dodo
Lola was overjoyed to be a big sister, thrilled to have the cutest little companion to play with.
“They are now the best of friends, and all they do is play all day long,” Cristina shared. “They’ve only been together for about a month and a half, but they absolutely love each other. They even sleep on the same bed.”
Knowing she had given Lola a home where she could truly be happy and healthy filled Cristina with joy.
And in the end, those early challenges only made their bond even stronger.
“The highlight of my day is just coming home and spending time with her,” Cristina said. “She really does hold a special place in my heart.”
Source: Christina Antonucci via The Dodo