Lola’s Christmas Miracle: From Lost Pup to Beloved Family Member
Just before last Christmas, something extraordinary happened—something I now believe was meant to be.
I was heading home at noon to turn off a crock pot—something I hadn’t done in four years. As I neared our neighborhood, I spotted a small, frightened puppy lingering at the edge of the woods. She was a pit bull mix, and clearly in need of help.
All I had at home was cat food, so on my way back to work, I gently approached her and placed some on the ground. She started to retreat, but hunger overcame fear. As she cautiously ate, her tail wagged nonstop.
Leaving her there was heartbreaking. I could only hope she’d still be there when I returned.
After work, I stopped at the grocery store and bought dog food, a collar, a leash—and a warm rotisserie chicken. When I returned to the woods, she was gone.
Still, I called out, “Come here baby, come on.” Moments later, I heard the sound of crashing through the brush—she was coming to me.
The chicken made things easier. I was able to slip the collar on, and together we went straight to the vet.
She was in rough shape—skin issues, worms, and unregistered microchip—but the vet determined she was about 7 months old. A quick dose of medication killed off her fleas and ticks, which was enough to convince my husband to let her spend the night.
We tried everything to find her original owners—posting on social media and Gainesville’s Pet Finder page. No one came forward.
But then came a message that changed everything.
A retired couple, formerly part of an animal rescue group, saw Lola’s photo. They had recently lost one of their dogs and were hoping to find a companion for their remaining pup, Buster.
A few weeks later, we met. Buster and his new sister Lola clicked instantly. She went home to a 20-acre fenced farm filled with love, room to roam, and even some farm animals.
Her new mom regularly sends updates. Lola, once malnourished and sick, is now healthy, happy, and thriving. We visited her recently and are already planning our next trip.
Lola’s new mom tells me I saved her life. But truthfully, we had been grieving the loss of our mastiff, and Lola helped heal our hearts.
I like to think of it this way: I helped start her story, but her new family is the one writing her happy ending.
“…and she lived happily ever after.”