In 2018, a heartbreaking scene unfolded on a Philadelphia sidewalk. A young dog, later named Suzi, was discovered lying motionless in front of a home known to be tied to drugs.
She was barely responsive — and no one could believe what had happened to her.
Bystanders told responding animal control officers that neighborhood kids might have injected the dog with drugs. Tragically, toxicology reports confirmed it: Suzi had both cocaine and THC in her system.
Suzi was rushed to Faithful Friends Animal Society in Delaware, where veterinarians immediately began emergency care.
“When she first arrived, she was unable to walk, stand, eat or drink,” Kevin Rentz, the group’s marketing manager, told The Dodo. “Our vets had never seen a mistreatment dealing with narcotics like this. It was heartbreaking.”
For more than two days, Suzi received a steady stream of IV fluids to cleanse the drugs from her small body. Vets monitored her round the clock, doing everything they could to keep her comfortable.
“She could barely hold her head up and was barely responsive,” Rentz said. “You could tell she did not know what was going on.”
But then came the breakthrough everyone had hoped for: Suzi began to recover.
As the drugs left her system, her sweet and gentle personality began to shine through — and the vet staff quickly fell in love. “She stole the hearts of all the vets and techs here,” Rentz said. “Once the drugs had started leaving her system, you could see her personality perk up.”
Before long, Suzi was running, playing, and chasing toys. It was likely her first time ever experiencing simple joys like these. “She wouldn’t let her ball out of her sight,” Rentz said with a smile.
Her story quickly spread across Delaware’s evening news, where one family happened to be watching.
“We were devastated to hear that someone, especially kids, would do something so cruel,” said Rosa Alicea, whose mom Aida rushed the family to the shelter after seeing Suzi’s story. “When we saw her for the first time, she was laying in the shelter cage and she just looked up at us. She was so calm, never barked, not fazed by all the barking around her.”
During their visit, Suzi curled up right beside Rosa’s son, Jonathan — a moment the family would never forget. That’s when they knew she belonged with them.
There was one more twist of fate. “Our family dog growing up was also named Suzi, and she was the same color,” Rosa said. “I knew she was meant to be.”
And as if the stars hadn’t already aligned enough, Suzi’s adoption was made official on none other than St. Patrick’s Day — the perfect symbol of her hard-earned luck.
Now living happily with her forever family, the only visible reminder of her past is a tiny shaved spot on her leg from the IV.
“She is adjusting really well,” Rosa said. “She is so well-mannered and gentle.”
Suzi’s story is a powerful reminder of resilience, compassion, and the second chances every animal deserves.
