From the Roadside to Hope: Help Josephine Heal

Josephine is safe—but her journey is far from over.

Thanks to an incredibly kind Good Samaritan, Josephine was given a lifeline. She was allowed to take shelter in a garage and was then transported to the vet, where we quickly learned that her medical needs were far greater than we ever could have predicted.

Josephine is an older girl who has clearly been living with pain for a long time. An old, untreated leg injury healed incorrectly, leaving her with joint thickening and arthritis that affects her mobility. This likely put her at serious risk—she couldn’t move quickly enough to avoid danger, which may be how she ended up in harm’s way in the first place. While her leg cannot be surgically fixed, her pain can be managed with medication so she can be comfortable.

She also suffers from keratoconjunctivitis sicca (dry eye), meaning she does not produce enough tears and requires daily eye medication. Thankfully, her eye pressures are normal and she has no ulcers at this time. She tested positive for Lyme and Ehrlichia—tick-borne diseases we unfortunately see far too often—and has already begun antibiotics.

Josephine still needs to be spayed and requires a dental due to moderate tartar buildup. She has received senior bloodwork, vaccinations, deworming, and preventatives. While all of that is expected for a dog who has lived life without consistent care, her most urgent concern is far more serious.

Josephine has a mass on the right side of her face and another on the back of her head. These masses need to be surgically removed and sent out for histopathology so we can determine what we’re dealing with and what comes next. Until we have answers, we can’t move forward—and neither can she.

At this moment, Josephine does not have a foster or rescue placement lined up. What she does have is a gentle, loving spirit and a chance at a future she never should have had to wait this long for.

The estimated cost for Josephine’s medical care and boarding is between $1,600 and $1,900. We cannot do this without immediate help.

Your donation tells us you believe senior dogs like Josephine are worth saving. It tells us to keep stopping for the old dogs left on the side of the road, to keep saying yes when it’s hard, and to keep giving them the chance to become someone’s treasured companion.

Please donate for Josephine today. She has endured enough. Now she deserves healing, comfort, and love. ❤️

4/9/26 Update

Thanks to your generosity, Josephine had surgery to remove the mass from her face and abdomen. The histopathology concluded cancer, but surgery should be curative. We are happy to report she has been adopted!