When Rosemary first arrived at the Humane Society of Northwest Louisiana (HSNWLA) last June, she could barely take a few steps without becoming exhausted.
At just 3 years old, the little Chihuahua was so severely overweight that moving around was a struggle — and her sad eyes said it all.
“We had seen one photo of her, so we knew she was overweight, but seeing her in person was heartbreaking,” said Erin Shirley, a volunteer at HSNWLA. “Even walking outside to potty completely wore her out.”
Rosemary had been surrendered to a shelter in Texas by her former family, who claimed she was elderly and suffering from health issues — so much so that they requested she be euthanized.
But the shelter staff sensed something didn’t add up. Rosemary wasn’t a senior, and she still had so much life left to live.
That’s when they reached out to HSNWLA for help.
When Rosemary stepped on the scale at her new shelter, the number shocked everyone: 24 pounds — more than double what a healthy Chihuahua should weigh.
But the staff was determined to help her get a second chance.
She was immediately put on a special prescription diet and started a gentle exercise routine, including water treadmill sessions twice a week. Slowly but surely, the weight started coming off — and her spark began to return.
“Just being able to move around in the yard with the other dogs made a huge difference,” Shirley said. “Once she dropped a few pounds, she became noticeably more active — and then the weight just kept melting off.”
By January, Rosemary had lost 11 pounds — nearly half her body weight. With her transformation came a whole new attitude.
“She always had a sweet nature, but she was so lethargic at first because of how hard it was to carry all that extra weight,” Shirley said. “Now, she’s bursting with energy and personality.”
Rosemary is now a bright, bubbly pup who loves attention and playtime.
And after months of hard work and care, she’s finally ready to find the forever home she’s been waiting for — with a family who will help her continue her healthy lifestyle and love her unconditionally.
Interested in adopting Rosemary? Visit the HSNWLA website to fill out an application and help this little survivor live her best life.
