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I had really been wanting a dog for years, and I finally decided it was time to get one. I knew I wanted to adopt, especially from my local shelter because they were at capacity. I started looking online everyday at pictures. One day, I saw a litter of seven German Shepherd/Chow Chow mix puppies, four of whom were adopted within 24 hrs. I knew I had to get there right away!

I rushed over to the shelter, and as soon as I stepped into the kennel, one puppy was all over me, jumping at my face and trying to lick me everywhere it could reach. I knew it had picked me and this was the one! I matched it to the paperwork outside. The puppy's name was Joanie. I fell in love with the name Annabelle, so I changed her name. The hard part was waiting five days to bring her home!

A few days after she was home, she became really sick. The hair around her nose and mouth fell out, her whole face looked swollen, and she was very lethargic. I knew something was wrong. I took her to the vet and they diagnosed her with puppy strangles. She was put on steroids for two months to treat the puppy strangles and an antibiotic for the secondary infection it had caused on her skin.

I gave Annabelle her first dose of meds and then went to work. When I came home, it was like she was a completely different puppy! Her whole face shape changed! The swelling in her face had gone down significantly and revealed a thinner muzzle and normal looking eyes and ears. She looked like a little fluffy fox! Now she is a happy, healthy, spoiled rotten 8 month old puppy!

I never could have imagined a sweeter dog! She loves so unconditionally and listens so well. I thank the Lord for her every single day. I really feel like she was sent to me just as I was sent to her. We saved each other!

Story submitted by Kristy Radford from Raleigh, North Carolina.

This story was originally shared on The Animal Rescue Site. Share your very own rescue story here!