When Lily Lynn arrived at Animal Care Centers of NYC, she was shy, uncertain and dealing with skin problems that required extra attention.
Ashley Pelkoski soon stepped in to foster her medically through Every Last One Rescue. From the moment she picked Lily up, Pelkoski sensed that the 2-year-old dog was ready for a very different chapter in her life.
Lily appeared to have spent much of her young life being used for breeding.
Pelkoski wrote on TikTok that Lily had already had several litters despite being only 2 years old, leading rescuers to believe she had likely been kept primarily to produce puppies with a particular appearance.
That part of her life was finally coming to an end.
Lily was scheduled to be spayed, meaning there would be no more litters and no more puppies for her to raise.
For once, Pelkoski said, Lily would get the chance to simply be cared for herself.
As Lily became more comfortable in her foster home, Pelkoski started noticing some unusual things about her personality.
Most toys did not interest her.
Many treats did not seem particularly exciting either.
Pelkoski wanted badly to find something that would make Lily genuinely happy, while also wondering what experiences from her previous life might explain some of her behavior.
Eventually, she decided to speak with an animal communicator.
During the session, Pelkoski was told something extremely specific: Lily was supposedly missing a yellow duck she had once loved.
The communicator said the toy had been especially important to Lily and suggested that she wanted it back.
Pelkoski decided there was no harm in trying.
She went out, found a yellow stuffed duck and brought it home for Lily.
She named the toy Miss Gloria.
Lily’s reaction was immediate.
The dog who had previously shown almost no enthusiasm for toys suddenly began playing.
She carried the duck around, cuddled with it and treated Miss Gloria completely differently from the toys Pelkoski had previously offered her.
Before long, the two were practically inseparable.
Pelkoski was amazed by the transformation.
“She legit did not care about toys until Miss Gloria came back into her life,” she wrote on TikTok.
And the change did not stop with the duck.
After discovering Miss Gloria, Lily gradually became interested in other toys as well.
Pelkoski watched as the once-reserved foster dog became more playful, expressive and comfortable showing her personality.
Whether or not anyone could know exactly what Lily remembered from her past, the yellow duck clearly gave her something that made her feel happy and secure.
Miss Gloria had become part toy, part comfort object and part symbol of the new life Lily was beginning to enjoy.
Eventually, Lily’s foster journey reached the milestone Pelkoski had been hoping for.
She was adopted.
Lily moved into a permanent home with a family ready to love and protect her — and naturally, Miss Gloria went with her.
For Pelkoski, saying goodbye was emotional after watching Lily change so much during their time together.
Still, knowing that the dog was heading into a safe and loving home made the farewell easier.
“Knowing she is walking into a home where she will be loved, protected and surrounded by family makes letting her go a little easier,” Pelkoski said.
Lily’s new life now includes a permanent family, a much brighter future and, of course, the yellow duck that helped bring out the playful dog who had been waiting underneath all along.