“[S]he was just sitting quietly there, waiting for someone to come and get her …”
One early morning a few months back, staff at the Benton-Franklin Humane Society arrived to a heartbreaking sight: a young dog tied to the shelter’s back door. Curled up beside the air conditioning unit, she looked exhausted, confused, and utterly alone.
“She was just sitting there quietly, waiting for someone to help her,” recalled volunteer Julie Saraceno.
The team rushed her inside, only to later discover on security cameras that the pup had been abandoned during the night — left outside for at least six long hours. Sadly, they couldn’t identify the man who dropped her off, and her past remained a mystery.
At roughly 2 years old, the little dog was thin but otherwise healthy. Shelter staff named her Tinkerbell. Though timid and overwhelmed at first, it didn’t take long for her gentle, affectionate personality to peek through.
“She was very nervous, but at the same time she was so trusting and loving,” Saraceno said. “She just wanted cuddles.”
Hoping to give Tinkerbell a break from the shelter, Saraceno treated her to a small adventure — an ice cream outing. At first, Tinkerbell didn’t know what to make of the cone, but once Saraceno showed her how to taste it, the pup eagerly joined in. “She realized, ‘Oh, this is actually wonderful. Ice cream isn’t scary at all,’” Saraceno laughed.
Day by day, Tinkerbell’s confidence grew, and she quickly became a favorite among staff and volunteers. It wasn’t long before a loving adopter saw the same sparkle in her. The moment she headed home with her new family, Tinkerbell’s joy was unmistakable.
Though Saraceno couldn’t be there in person, she received a photo from Tinkerbell’s adopter showing the once-abandoned pup relaxed and happy on her ride home. “I was crying tears of joy,” Saraceno said. “It meant the world to me.”
Not long ago, Tinkerbell was frightened, abandoned, and unsure of her future. Today, her story is completely different — she’s safe, cherished, and finally living the life she deserves.