West Seneca, N.Y. (WBEN) - Rosebud is a 5-year-old Cavalier King Charles who is lifting spirits all around Western New York.
She is part of the SPCA Serving Erie County "Paws for Love" program, which spreads comfort and joy at nursing homes, hospices, schools and other children's facilities.
It's not how her life started.
Rosebud is a puppy mill survivor. She spent the first four years of her life
in a cage, in Ohio, breeding puppies. She didn't have a name. She had a number that was tattooed inside her lip.
Sue Gibson of Orchard Park learned from a dog rescue organization that she was being released and she and her girlfriend went the next day to pick her up.
"She was all dirty and matted and looking at me with her big eyes. When I got her home she started to have some medical issues. My vet told me that she had congestive heart failure and an enlarged heart and she wasn't going to make it."
Gibson decided to get a second opinion. That doctor told her to throw away the heart medication. The dog's recovery went down a different path.
"I gave her the name Rosebud and she's absolutely fine. She is the most beautiful, calm, old souled dog that you would want to see," added Gibson.
You hear about dog rescues, but this was a true rescue.
"Rosebud didn't know how to walk on grass. She didn't now how to drink out of a water bowl. But she transitioned beautifully."
Soon after, Gibson put her in the SPCA's Paws of Love program to give back to the community.
"There's something therapeutic about petting her. It de-stresses you."
Gibson noted, this is her third rescue dog. "And everyone of them has found me."
You can make a donation to the 22nd annual SPCA Radiothon HERE.
Scroll below for some photos of the 2024 SPCA Radiothon.
