Faces of No-Kill: New hope for dog with mighty name

Apollo had the opposite of puppy dog eyes. His eyes were still big, brown, and adorable. However, they carried melancholy that anyone who met him could feel. But don’t worry: After coming to Best Friends, Apollo started seeing the world in a whole new light.

He might be named after the god of light, but there was no brightness in Apollo’s eyes when he arrived at the Best Friends Pet Resource Center in Northwest Arkansas. He’d come from a shelter several hours away to make room for more dogs in need.

The 3-year-old dog was emaciated, every rib visible beneath his speckled coat. He also had heartworm disease. Of course, this new arrival needed veterinary care and steady meals. But he also needed to feel safe and loved, and that meant going to a foster home.

Best Friends staff asked experienced volunteers Rocio and Glenn Ritter about fostering Apollo, and they gladly agreed. It marked the start of mighty Apollo’s transformation.

6 unexpected benefits of fostering a dog during heartworm treatment

Apollo made fast friends with the resident dog, a shaggy little fellow, and the two had fun romping around in the snow together. He also soaked up plenty of hugs and kisses and slept in a bed of his very own. During his time in his foster home, Apollo continued heartworm treatment under the care of the Best Friends veterinary team and became healthier each day. He grew stronger, too, gaining 20 much-needed pounds. Best of all, his expression began to change; instead of sadness, you could see hope and happiness in his eyes.

Once Apollo’s belly was full, his coat was shiny, and he was feeling much better, he returned to the pet resource center to meet potential adopters. By then, his big brown eyes told a much different story — one of a confident dog ready for whatever came next. Sure enough, he was adopted after only a short time.

Dog’s soul outshines her physical challenges

These days, Apollo is loving life at home and using his puppy dog eyes to ask for treats, just like he should. It’s a change made possible by a foster family who gave him the love, support, and time he needed to shine.

Our goal at Best Friends is to support all animal shelters in the U.S. in reaching no-kill. 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.