Faces of No-Kill: Angelic pup survives head injury

With his peaches-and-cream coat, adorably floppy ears, and sunny personality, Halo looks every bit as angelic as his name suggests. One would never guess this resilient little pup had a rough start in life, as his warmth and charm shine as brightly as the metaphoric halo atop his fluffy little head.

Halo came to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in need of urgent veterinary care. He had a severe head injury that required specialized care. The team at Best Friends Animal Clinic examined him and, due to the severity of his injuries, referred him to a specialty hospital in Las Vegas.

“The veterinary specialists determined that a piece of his skull that was broken had to come out,” explains Dr. Colleen Guilfoyle, Best Friends veterinarian. “They removed that piece of skull and repaired the wound. He also saw an ophthalmologist. Initially, we thought his eye would also have to be removed, but incredibly, his eye is already much better.”

Now, Halo needed a soft place to land while he healed, and foster caregiver Karen Heet was more than happy to open her home to this angelic little pup.

“He has an indominable spirit and doesn’t let anything get him down,” says Karen. “I don’t think there’s an animal or person he doesn’t love right away. He’s just a big love bug.”

Karen wheels Halo around town in a special pet stroller because he’s too young to be fully vaccinated. Until then, walking on public ground puts puppies at risk for serious diseases like parvovirus and distemper, which can spread through contaminated surfaces. Her senior dog, Cooper, often tags along for the rides.

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“When I take them for stroller walks, every time we pass somebody, Halo really thinks that person is only there to say hello to him, so he’ll lean over the stroller and try to give them a kiss,” laughs Karen. “He’s just a happy, sunny little guy. You would never know what he’s been through.”

Halo’s head injury continues to heal beautifully. And while his eye will always be a bit cloudy and he’ll always have a small soft spot on his head, he doesn’t let that slow him down or dampen his spirit.

And, as fate would have it, Karen fell head over paws for this resilient, gentle little pup and adopted him. Halo’s home now, and his gentle spirit is already softening Cooper’s sometimes-curmudgeonly exterior.

“Cooper’s not really into heavy play, so Halo is really gentle with him,” Karen says. “He reads other animals’ energies and respond appropriately, so while he’s gentle with Cooper, he ramps it up with other dogs who are a little more rambunctious.”

“I think one of the things that is really beautiful about Halo’s story is what animals can do if you just give them a chance,” says Dr. Colleen. “I try not to look too much at the condition or the injury and look more at the animal. He was a happy puppy. He wanted to eat, he wanted to play, so we just had to facilitate his healing. Animals are resilient and natural healers, and sometimes we just need to help them along their way.”

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Halo’s journey from a fragile puppy to a playful, resilient companion is nothing short of angelic. With his gentle spirit and his knack for spreading joy wherever he goes, Halo seems destined to be a beacon of hope for others.

Karen believes he has all the makings of a great therapy dog, ready to show people that happiness is possible even after life’s toughest challenges.

Our goal at Best Friends is to support all animal shelters in the U.S. in reaching no-kill in 2025. No-kill means saving every dog and cat in a shelter who can be saved, accounting for community safety and good quality of life for pets. 

Shelter staff can’t do it alone. Saving animals in shelters is everyone’s responsibility, and it takes support and participation from the community. No-kill is possible when we work together thoughtfully, honestly, and collaboratively.