Samantha, a 4-year-old bully mix, spent over a year at Miami Dade Animal Services (MDAS) — her eyes growing dimmer with each passing day.
Despite her gentle soul and longing gaze, she was overlooked time and again. Slowly, her spirit began to fade.
Known affectionately as Sammy, she was becoming just another forgotten face behind shelter bars. That is, until someone saw what others didn’t.
A Second Chance
When the rescue group Humans and Animals United (HAAU) came across Sammy’s photo, they couldn’t look away.
“Those photos broke us,” said Rosa Fond, HAAU’s founder. “We decided to pick her up, and then we’d figure out the rest.”
When a volunteer from HAAU arrived to bring Sammy out of the shelter, the sadness in her eyes was overwhelming. But once she climbed into the car, something shifted — slowly but surely, her frown gave way to a soft smile.
“That’s when Samantha started opening up,” Fond said.
From Forgotten to Flourishing
After receiving long-overdue medical care, Sammy was placed in a foster home, where she started to heal — emotionally and physically. She also completed a full training program to help prepare her for the next chapter: adoption.
But even with her newfound confidence and glowing personality, Sammy’s perfect match still hadn’t come.
A Happy Ending
Then in August, everything changed.
A couple stumbled upon Sammy’s story online and were instantly drawn to her transformation — from hopeless to hopeful, from broken to beaming.
When they met her in person, it was love at first sight.
“This family went above and beyond to make sure Sammy had everything she needed to flourish,” HAAU shared in a heartfelt Facebook post. “The love they’ve shown her — and our rescue — is something we’ll always treasure.”
Now, Samantha is living the life she always deserved.
Her days are filled with joy — from leisurely walks and poolside naps to playtime with her new canine siblings. Most often, you’ll find her curled up beside her new family, content in the warmth of their love.
The lonely shelter days are behind her. What once was a look of despair is now a bright, unmistakable grin.
And truly, no words are needed.
“Her smile says it all,” HAAU said.
To support more dogs like Samantha on their journey to healing and happiness, you can donate to Humans and Animals United here.
