In a perfect world, every puppy would grow up knowing love and nestled into soft beds, learning joy from gentle hands, and dozing off with a full belly.
But for Chance, that world never came.
When illness struck, his frail body gave in to the pain of an untreated abscess. And instead of helping him through it, the people he trusted drove him to a California emergency vet, then walked away for good.
Alone in a kennel, with a swollen face and no one to call his own, Chance held on to the only thing he had left: the hope that someone, somewhere, might still care.
The Dog That Has No More Tears
The vet team treated his wounds, but knew he was hurting far deeper than they could reach.
So they called in reinforcements—The Animal Pad, a rescue group in San Diego.
When Lauren Botticelli arrived, she didn’t see a playful puppy. She saw ribs pressing against skin. A dog too scared to lift his head. A soul drained of trust.
As she tried to comfort him, Chance flinched and looked away. Touch made him shake. He wet himself in fear. She sat with him quietly. And though he wouldn’t meet her eyes, she saw enough.
This wasn’t just neglect—this was a heart broken by betrayal.
Still, beneath the silence, she felt something faint but real: a spark. A little dog still clinging to the idea that maybe this wasn’t the end.
After a round of tests, Chance was cleared for surgery. At a second hospital, the abscess was drained. With the swelling gone, a new face appeared: one not just healed, but ready to begin again.
The Power of Love
When he left the hospital, Chance didn’t go to a kennel. He went home with Botticelli. For the first time, he had a soft bed, warm meals, and a human who never raised her voice.
He didn’t transform overnight. Some days, he just watched from the corner, unsure if he belonged. But his foster mom kept showing up with kind words, patient hands, and space to heal.
And slowly, his world got brighter.
The first tail wag came out of nowhere. Then, a small bark. A tentative kiss.
Before long, Chance was running in the yard with other pups, his eyes dancing with joy. He no longer flinched when touched. He leaned into it.
Now, this once-forgotten pup covers his foster mom in kisses, his way of saying he remembers and forgives.
He’s ready for his next chapter.
All he’s waiting for is the moment someone kneels down, opens their arms, and says: “You’re home now.”