Suzi was just a year old when she was found lying motionless on a sidewalk outside a known drug house. Barely conscious, she had been cruelly exposed to drugs — later tests revealed both cocaine and THC in her system.
Animal control officers rushed her to Faithful Friends Animal Society, where the veterinary team immediately hooked her up to IV fluids in a race to save her life.
“When she first arrived, she couldn’t walk, stand, eat or drink,” said Kevin Rentz, marketing manager at Faithful Friends. “Our vets had never seen a case of mistreatment like this. It was heartbreaking.”
For two long days, Suzi remained weak and unresponsive, her tiny body fighting to flush out the toxins.
But then, almost like a light switching on, her spirit returned.
“She stole the hearts of everyone here,” Rentz said. “Once the drugs left her system, her personality just bloomed.”
Soon Suzi was trotting outside, chasing toys, and clinging to her very first ball — refusing to let it out of her sight.
Her remarkable recovery quickly made headlines across Delaware. One family, devastated by her story, knew they had to meet her.
“When we first saw her, she was so calm, just lying in her cage looking up at us,” said Rosa Alicea, whose daughter Aida brought the family to the shelter. “She never barked, even with all the noise around her. She just had this gentle soul.”
As fate would have it, the Alicea family had once had a dog named Suzi — the same color as this one. “I knew she was meant to be,” Rosa said.
On St. Patrick’s Day, Suzi officially went home with them — a fitting date for a dog so lucky to be alive. Today she’s thriving: running in the yard, rolling in the grass, and snuggling with her new family, always keeping a ball close by.
“She is adjusting really well,” Rosa said. “She’s gentle, well-mannered, and just wants love.”
From the darkest of beginnings to the happiest of endings, Suzi’s story is proof that resilience — and a little luck — can change everything.
To support more dogs in need, you can make a donation to Faithful Friends Animal Society in celebration of Suzi’s new life.
