“Her love for her babies is so admirable.”
When animal officers in Syracuse, New York, entered an apartment last month, they found a dog who had been left behind by her previous owner.
Her name was Amarillo.
After arranging for her transfer to Friends Forever Animal Rescue, officers sent photos of the dog to the rescue team.
The images immediately raised questions.
Amarillo’s fur was bright yellow.
“We were shocked and stunned,” Friends Forever Animal Rescue wrote in a Facebook post. “Why was she yellow? What is that?”
No one knew exactly what had caused the strange coloring.
Rescuers considered several possibilities, including dye, highlighter or even food seasoning. Whatever the substance was, it had deeply stained Amarillo’s coat.
Her unusual color wasn’t the only sign that she had been neglected.
Amarillo was severely dehydrated, her nails were overgrown and her overall condition showed that she had gone without proper care.
But despite everything she had experienced, her personality remained remarkably loving.
“She was incredibly happy and affectionate,” rescue founder Casey Newton-McLaren said. “She was eager to climb into the arms of anyone willing to give her attention and love.”
The rescue team immediately began working to clean her coat.
One bath barely made a difference.
Neither did two, three or even six.
It took seven baths before rescuers began seeing the yellow noticeably fade.
By Amarillo’s 16th bath, nearly all of the mysterious staining was finally gone.
Underneath was a healthy-looking coat that rescuers had barely been able to see when she first arrived.
Her physical recovery continued from there.
Amarillo began gaining weight, her coat grew shinier and her overall health steadily improved.
“Today, Amarillo looks amazing,” Newton-McLaren said. “She has gained weight, her coat is healthy and shiny, and although you can still see a small amount of yellow peeking through in places, it no longer defines what you see when you look at her.”
Now that Amarillo is feeling better, her rescuers are focused on finding her the permanent family she deserves.
They describe her as friendly with children, dogs and cats, and say she would thrive with people who want to include her in their everyday adventures.
“She does well with children, dogs, cats and just about everything in between,” Newton-McLaren said. “She is an active little girl and would love a family that includes her in their activities.”
More than anything, the rescue hopes Amarillo’s next home will be permanent.
“More than anything, Amarillo deserves commitment,” Newton-McLaren said. “She deserves a family that sees the beauty in her, cherishes her, and understands that bringing her home means promising that this time, nobody is going to leave her behind.”
The bright yellow coat that first shocked her rescuers is almost completely gone.
What remains is the part of Amarillo that was there all along — a loving, resilient dog waiting for someone to finally choose her for good.