Ollie

Sometimes rescue is getting a dog off a chain.

Sometimes it’s treating heartworms, putting weight back on a starving body, and giving them a warm place to sleep.

And sometimes, the hardest part comes after all of that.

Volunteer Amy has loved Ollie for more than four years. But loving Ollie has also meant learning how deeply the things that happened before his rescue still live with him.

Ollie was originally named Opus. He was one of three dogs—Novel, Libro and Opus—living chained outside when A&F learned about them. Craig went to save one dog that day.
He came home with three.
Because how do you leave the others behind?

All three were severely neglected. They were starving and had heartworms. Ollie weighed just 22 pounds, even though he was a full-grown adult dog who now weighs around 44 pounds.

But there was more to their story.

Before they were chained outside, the three dogs had reportedly lived in a trailer with a previous owner who passed away. A neighbor remembered hearing the dogs wailing when the owner's body was removed. Afterward, the dogs ended up outside, chained and neglected.

Ollie survived.
But survival didn't erase what happened to him.

When Amy first brought him home, he seemed happy, cuddly and carefree. As time passed, though, his anxiety began to show. Unexpected noises could send him trembling. Storms terrified him. Separation could cause him to pace, pant and panic.

So Amy and her family learned Ollie.

They've worked with a behaviorist. They've learned his body language and his triggers. They've created a safe space downstairs with a bed and sound machine where he can retreat during storms. Four years later, they're still learning, adjusting and helping him feel safe.

And Ollie is worth every bit of it.
He's sweet. He's happy. He loves belly rubs, other dogs, outdoor patios and brewery trips—as long as there isn't a storm coming.

His past is part of him, but it doesn't get to be the only part of his story.

This is why we dream about Homestead East.

When Ollie, Libro and Novel were rescued, there wasn't space for them at our facilities, so they initially had to go into boarding. For a dog like Ollie—already terrified of unexpected noises and carrying trauma we couldn't yet see—that wasn't the environment he needed.

Imagine instead bringing a dog like Ollie directly into a quiet little home. A place to decompress. A place where we don't immediately ask anything of him except to realize:
You're safe now.
And nearby, the veterinary care he needs is right there too.

That's part of what we're building at Homestead East: an environment where we can care for more animals physically and emotionally, giving each of them the best possible chance to heal.

Because rescue isn't just saving a life.
It's understanding that sometimes the trauma comes with them.
It's giving them the time, space and care they need anyway.
It's making peace as important as survival.

Ollie got that chance because people said yes to him.

Our dream is to make sure we can say yes to so many more.