Dogs Most In Need

Bessie paraded into life at TLC. She is larger than life, both in size and spirit. At 42 pounds (nearly double what she should weigh), she was breathless, struggling to move, and shaped more like a loaf of bread than a pup. But beneath her roly-poly frame was one of the sweetest souls we’ve ever met.

We immediately started her on a diet and daily movement plan, cheering her on through her weight loss journey as she made friends and napped peacefully in a safe home. We thought helping her lose weight would be our only challenge.

But her body had other plans.

Just a week after arriving, Bessie began coughing and having trouble settling at night. We assumed it was kennel cough or a virus. Antibiotics were started. Then another round. But nothing helped. Her energy faded, and she was coughing through long, painful fits that left us all sleepless and worried. So we took her to our trusted friends at VRC for X-rays, suspecting pneumonia.

What we saw broke us.

Not only did she have possible pneumonia and a collapsing trachea—but there were also bullets visible on the scan. Lodged in her jaw and face.

This gentle, loving, gem of a dog had been silently carrying unimaginable trauma—and never let it show. Her devoted foster family took her home with more medication and heavier hearts. But soon after, the vet called with even more devastating possibilities: fungal or resistant bacterial pneumonia, trauma complications... or cancer. She was admitted to the ER, where she spent two days undergoing biopsies, scans, and receiving 24/7 care.

Bessie has been diagnosed with bacterial pneumonia, and while we finally have some answers, the road ahead won’t be easy—it may take time and ongoing care to fight. She’s back home now, resting with her foster family, who have gone above and beyond. What began as a simple weight-loss journey has become full-time medical care for a dog battling a serious illness. They’re administering nebulizer treatments twice a day, managing a complex medication routine, and loving her through every difficult moment. We truly can’t thank them enough.

But when we commit to a dog, we mean it. No matter what. Even when the diagnosis is daunting. Even when the costs pile up.

Bessie through the exhaustion, discomfort and vet visits has remained sweet and loving. We miss her sparkle. And we want it back.