Olivia is a 13-year-old Smooth Collie mix in Newark, DE who needs $1,500 for blood transfusion and medications for intravascular hemolysis.

Olivia's life started rough. She was a feral pup found heavily pregnant at 8 months old in the mountains of Georgia. She was picked up by P.U.P.S., a rescue group from NJ that focuses on pregnant dogs in kill shelters, just days before she was to be put down. She was so weak and ill they didn't think she would survive the birth. We told them if she did we would take her.

The following year was an adjustment period for all of us. She wasn't used to following commands and behaved so erratically we were convinced there was something mentally wrong with her. She wouldn't let us pet her or touch her, she was very food possessive, and she didn't know how to play or what to do with a toy. Training was impossible and frustrating until I realized she had this expression that she wanted to do what I was telling her but didn't seem to understand what I wanted. So, as much as I wanted to just give up and even considered returning her to PUPS, I kept trying.

Patience was indeed a virtue as she slowly grew to trust us. One day, about 7 months after we adopted her, I was watching tv on the couch and noticed her watching me from the corner. I didn't let on that I was aware of her and kept facing the tv but she approached slowly. Eventually, she stood beside me and I looked down at her and said hello. To my surprise, she laid her head on my lap and allowed me to scratch behind her ears and licked my hand. I swear I almost cried!

From that moment on, she followed every command we gave her, began to play with us and our other dog, Rosie, and started to back off with the food aggression. It was a miracle! In the 12 years since, she has taken up the role as family guardian and makes security detail her main priority, often refusing to go to bed until she's checked the perimeter.