“When the rescuers came, she didn’t care about food. She cared about her monkey.”
In a heartbreaking moment at a park in Bakersfield, California, a dog was pushed out of a car and left behind by her family. As the vehicle drove off, the only thing they left her with was a beloved stuffed monkey — her favorite toy. Onlookers were stunned and saddened as they watched the sweet pup sit beside the toy, confused and alone.
“When rescuers arrived, food didn’t interest her,” wrote Theron Marbury from South Coast Humane Society (SCHS) on Facebook. “All she cared about was her monkey. That’s how she got her name — Monkey.”
Monkey was taken to a local shelter already at capacity. Luckily, SCHS stepped in and pulled her out along with another dog, Jasper. Throughout every step of her journey, her little stuffed companion stayed close.
Despite her traumatic abandonment, Monkey arrived at SCHS full of energy and sweetness. The bond with her stuffed toy seemed to give her a quiet strength — as though it was the one familiar thing helping her face the new world ahead.
“She came in happy and full of life, sharing a kennel with Jasper,” said Jenifer Alcorn, SCHS’s executive director, in an interview with The Dodo. “She had been through so much, but you could see her spirit hadn’t been broken.”
Moved by Monkey’s loyalty to her stuffed friend, SCHS shared her story — complete with touching photos — on their Facebook page. It didn’t take long for the post to go viral. Inquiries poured in from people wanting to adopt her, but one family in particular stood out.
“They understood the breed and had the perfect setup — room to run, lots of love to give,” Alcorn said. “They met her and immediately fell in love. Then I took a chance and asked if they might also consider Jasper. They said yes to both!”
Now, Monkey and Jasper are enjoying their forever home together, surrounded by love, space, and comfort. Monkey’s journey was far from easy, but she made it through — with courage, resilience, and the quiet companionship of her cherished stuffed monkey.