
06/02/2025
Late-Night Rescue: Marina’s Journey from the Shadows to Safety 🐾
On the night of May 20th, just before 10pm, Jenny Rodriguez posted a plea for help; someome had called her and told her about a young dog full of blood locked in the pool area of her apartments.
I was somehow tagged and after speaking to Jenny I told her there was only one person I knew would go get her that late at night, Gustavo, from Laura’s Community Cat Project and a The ZOEY Group volunteer, without hesitation, he said yes to help.
A dog had been left in the pool area of an apartment complex near Antoine and Veterans Memorial Dr in Houston, TX—a temporary holding spot in hopes that someone would come through before it was too late.
For several scorching days, with temperatures hitting 94–99°F, this sweet girl waited in the heat. Thanks to the compassion of the apartment office staff, she had access to food and water, but what she really needed was rescue.
Gustavo headed out late that night and with the help of a kind tenant, they got into the locked pool area—and that’s when Marina’s life changed.
She was suffering from a severe, non-contagious form of mange. Her appearance had kept others away, fearful and unsure, but not Gustavo. Without hesitation, he scooped her up and got her to safety. In his car, feeling safe for the first time in who knows how long, Marina let out a deep sigh… and fell fast asleep.
💙 The next morning, Marina was seen at Tomball Animal Hospital, where she started a healing journey filled with daily medicated baths and lots of love. It didn’t take long before her spirit began to shine through—playful, sweet, and full of hope.
Now, Marina, barely 7 or 8 months old, is safe but searching for a foster home, where she can learn what it means to be a happy puppy. One day soon, she’ll find her forever family, and this painful chapter will just be a distant memory.
To the rescuers, volunteers, veterinarians, vet techs, kennel workers, and the people who speak up and refuse to look away—thank you. You are the reason these transformations happen.
This is why we do it. Because we live to see the change that is possible when a little help is given to these dogs.
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