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Poor little Clementine was just two days away from being put to sleep when a photo of her caught the eye of Chelsea Elizabeth Cossairt.
The malnourished dog, found wandering the streets of Southern California back in 2021, had been placed on “death row” at a local shelter due to her many health issues.
But something in that tiny photo tugged at Chelsea’s heart, and without hesitation, she submitted an application to rescue her.
When Chelsea got a call back from Ginger’s Pet Rescue, the worker on the other end was floored.
“She told us that of the hundreds of applications they’d received in the last few weeks, not one had been for Clementine,” Chelsea shared with The Dodo.
Despite the challenges ahead, including Clementine’s unpredictable health and severe fear of people, Chelsea was determined to bring her home and help her heal.
Clementine’s condition was critical. She weighed only 45 pounds and was fighting off five severe infections, one of which was a resistant strain of staph known as “dog MRSA.” Half of her fur was gone, and despite being given daily medicated baths, she still had a strong, unpleasant odor and a sticky, uncomfortable coat, as her rescuer described.
An the moment Chelsea met Clementine in person, it was clear the little dog had never experienced love.
“Clementine was absolutely terrified of people and wouldn’t look anyone in the eyes,” Chelsea explained. “She shook all the time, hid behind furniture, and would face the wall for months.”
Clementine’s eyes seemed empty, as if she had given up hope. She wouldn’t even lift her head when anyone approached her.
But there was one thing that Clementine trusted: other dogs.
She immediately bonded with Chelsea’s two other dogs, Moose and Maple, who became her new source of comfort and security.
“She sought comfort in being near them and traveling with them as a pack around the house or yard,” Chelsea recalled. This was the first sign that Clementine had the potential to become the happy, playful dog she deserved to be.
Months of vet visits, treatments for infections and allergies, and endless patience from her new family gradually helped Clementine feel better. “She stopped shaking and, little by little, began to trust us,” Chelsea said.
“She even started to look us in the eyes.” It wasn’t long before Clementine’s transformation was clear to see—she had blossomed from a scared, defeated pup into a confident, loving dog.
