When 17-year-old Elliot Sherin boarded a cruise to Jamaica last December, she thought the trip would be about beaches and horseback rides. Instead, it turned into a rescue mission she’ll never forget.
At a beachside ranch, Elliot noticed a pack of stray dogs wandering around. Trailing behind them was a fragile little puppy, barely 3 months old. His ribs jutted out, his fur was filthy, and his front legs bowed inward as he struggled to walk.
Elliot instantly knew he couldn’t be ignored. She named him Kingston.
“The rest of the dogs came right up looking for food,” Elliot told The Dodo. “But he was very scared. All I could think was, ‘How am I going to get him out of here?’”
Back on the cruise ship, she researched local rescues and found Animal House Jamaica. She contacted the group to see if there was anything they could do to help her save Kingston.
“At that point, I was completely set on rescuing this dog and bringing him home with me,” Sherin said. “I couldn’t stop looking at the picture I had taken of him. I could tell he was such a sweet little dog, just very scared. Meanwhile, my family was saying, ‘Yeah right, that’s impossible.’”
The group said they could help if someone brought Kingston to their shelter. If Elliot could cover his care and flight expenses, they’d make sure he was healthy enough to travel to her home in Seattle.
Her parents were skeptical — but they agreed. If she could raise the money herself, Kingston could be hers.
Determined, Elliot launched a fundraiser and shared Kingston’s story. Within days, friends and family rallied behind her, helping her collect more than $900 to pay for his journey.
Convincing the ranch staff to catch the timid puppy wasn’t easy. Even after Elliot flew home, she kept contacting them every day for weeks until, finally, they relented.
“They weren’t too keen on helping me at first,” Sherin said. “They saw him as just another puppy dumped on the streets. I had gone home by then, but I kept bothering them for three weeks straight.”
Sherin’s steady persistence paid off. The rescue contacted her soon after with news that the ranchers had caught Kingston and he was safe at the shelter.
“He was malnourished, covered in cuts, and battling heartworms,” Elliot said. “He stayed with the rescue until February, just getting strong enough to fly.”
After raising over $900 with the help of family and friends, Elliot could finally book Kingston’s trip home. She donated the leftover cash to the rescue for taking such good care of him, and patiently waited for his homecoming.
The day finally came in mid-February — and when Kingston finally arrived in Seattle, Elliot was overwhelmed with joy.
“They opened the garage door at the airport, and I saw him sitting in his crate,” she said. “I just cried. Everyone told me it was impossible — but here he was, home.”
Elliot worried Kingston would be fearful after all he’d endured. Instead, within minutes of exploring, he climbed into her lap and leaned against her, desperate for affection.
A vet later determined his bowed legs came from a calcium deficiency due to malnutrition — which developed from not having a proper diet during his first months of life.
But with proper food and care, he’s expected to improve. The family just had to keep an eye on it in case he needs to start wearing braces for support.
“The rescue told us that Kingston had probably been dumped out there as a puppy,” Sherin said. “So he has been struggling and starving out there his whole life.”
Now about 8 months old, Kingston’s life is unrecognizable. He has a big brother, a 6-year-old Lab named Bentley, to play with, endless treats, and cozy naps on the couch.
Elliot’s parents, once unsure, have fallen head over heels for him too.
“My mom tucks him in with a blanket every night,” Elliot laughed. “And my dad takes naps with him on the couch.”
Seeing how great Kingston’s life is now, Sherin can’t help but beam with pride every time someone asks where he came from.
For Elliot, Kingston isn’t just a rescue — he’s her proudest accomplishment.
“Before him, I had never seen a dog so malnourished he could barely stand,” she said. “Bringing him home opened my eyes. He changed me. And I know he’s grateful too.”
To keep up with Kingston’s adventures, you can follow him on Instagram.
