When I first met Orlando, he was about eight weeks old. I’m a puppy raiser for the charity Guide Dogs; the puppies come to live with us in Swanley, Kent, until they are 12 to 18 months old. I started training him, but one day, I noticed he was shaking his head, which can mean there is something wrong with a dog’s ears. We took him to the vet and, on the second visit, we were told to rush him straight to the Royal Veterinary hospital because he had tetanus.

In August 2025, Zoey, a gray-and-white pit bull, arrived at the Darlington County Humane Society in Hartsville, South Carolina, her future uncertain. Abandoned by her previous owner and diagnosed with heartworm disease, she faced obstacles that frequently cause shelter dogs to wait weeks, months and even years for a new home.

“Pumpkin first came to our shelter in May 2025, when her family had to move and couldn't find pet-friendly housing,” says Maggie Niehoff, programs director at C.A.R.E. “Sadly, this is one of the main reasons pets end up in our care.”