Lucy Lu was picked up as a stray so it wasn’t known how long she might have been on her own, but when she arrived at her Old Dog Haven Final Refuge home, her mom was appalled by her condition. Her nails were completely curled under her paws and the bones had somehow grown out of the top of them. It was terribly hard for her to walk! Her fur was matted all over including the fur on her face. In fact, the shelter thought she was blind because she kept bumping into things until they cut the mats from in front of her eyes. In addition, little Lucy Lu’s teeth were so infected and stinky this poor little dog could hardly eat. She was so thin. Her ODH Final Refuge family knew they had their work cut out for them, including Lucy Lu.

But Lucy Lu has since shown us how resilient these wonderful old dogs can be with proper care and love. The day after she arrived, her family took her to the vet for a nail trimming and they cleaned out what matted fur they could. She still had a nasty mat next to her mouth and others around her face and eyes that needed removal, so the vet was able to remove them during her dental while she was under anesthesia. What a change that made! Lucy Lu felt so much better and started trusting her family, unlike when she first arrived and just hid in a corner. A few days after her dental, Lucy Lu had another grooming appointment and this truly made all the difference. Today, she is proud, her feet are almost healed, and she is learning to walk normally once again! She is regaining her love of life. Lucy Lu now comes out and explores the yard and house for several hours at a time. She is getting to know the other four dogs in her household and gets along very well with them. Lucy Lu was even able to go on her first short walk! As her feet continue to heal her adventures will increase in length–and boy does she enjoy being out and about with her pack!

Lucy Lu also just likes to sit in front of the patio door and watch the birds and wildlife outside. She is a very calm and sweet dog, and she’s a quick learner who knows her family’s routines. She particularly likes her dad, so her family wonders if she had once been loved by a senior man before she fell on hard times. Lucy Lu’s mom tells us that, “One day I sat on the couch holding Lucy Lu for quite a while. We snuggled and ‘talked’. I told her this is her forever home and how very much we love her. That I am very happy she has come into our life. And that thanks to Old Dog Haven and our donors we have been able to make her as healthy as possible.”

Update:  Dear Lucy Lu had the very best time in her Final Refuge home and is a wonderful example of what love and the best care can do to heal our old dogs.  She blossomed and let her family know every day how much she was enjoying her last chapter with them.  Finally, her health gave out and she was sent on her way with so  much love.  This little girl will be greatly missed by her Dad and Mom.  We are so grateful to our donors for giving this girl her second chance to enjoy a wonderful life.

Lucy Lu on the way to complete ODH transformation