No contact, no problem for a sweet pup

Llorona spent her first few months at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary surrounded by sound — the hum of conversation, the clatter of clinic carts, the laughter of staff, the gentle shuffle of paws nearby. But for her, life played out just beyond the glass.

At around 7 weeks old, she arrived at the Sanctuary from a nearby shelter after being found injured and alone. With no mom or siblings in sight, the tiny pup carried signs of an attack — injuries on her face and an eye infection — plus no known vaccine history. And because no one could say for sure what had bitten her, Llorona had to undergo a strict 16-week rabies quarantine at the Sanctuary’s clinic.

Best Friends supports shelters in reaching no-kill by taking in pets who may need extra care before going to homes — pets like sweet Llorona. And the team was ready for the challenge of helping the puppy grow and thrive in unusual circumstances.

It’s not possible to diagnose rabies in a living animal, so Llorona had to be quarantined and observed for 16 weeks — no playing, no petting, no physical contact. For a puppy in her most critical stage of development, that kind of isolation could have lasting effects. Caregivers wondered: Would she come out fearful? Hesitant? Disconnected?

So they made it their mission to give her the best possible start, even under extraordinary circumstances. Only rabies-vaccinated team members could care for her, wearing gowns and gloves to safely slide food and water bowls through guillotine-style doors. Staff used those same doors to encourage her to move from one side of her indoor-outdoor enclosure to the other, so they could clean safely and thoroughly without any physical contact. It wasn’t typical care — but it was thoughtful, consistent, and deeply compassionate. It was the best that could be done for the sweet pup.

[A puppy’s journey part 1: A star is born]

Beyond meeting her basic needs, the team also found creative ways to keep her connected to the world. Volunteers sat just outside her enclosure, reading aloud through the glass in cheerful, expressive voices — the kind you'd use during story time. She had toys to play with (though she mostly preferred an audience) and a rotating cast of visitors with different voices, postures, and energies — all there to help her grow familiar with the wide, varied world beyond her enclosure. YouTube videos played daily, filling her space with the sounds of city life, birdsong, doorbells, and park chatter. It wasn’t a substitute for real-world experience, but it gave her a sense of the world’s rhythms — a preview of the life waiting for her.

“She was just always watching,” says Rhonda Brown, a veterinary assistant who spent time with Llorona during her quarantine. “She had this calm sense of adventure like she was ready, waiting for her chance.” 

That chance finally came — first in the form of a party. On her last day of quarantine, caregivers threw her a celebration filled with treats, toys, and dogs to play with. After three and a half months of watching the world from behind glass, she was finally free to run, sniff, snack, and play. Caregivers showered her with tasty treats and watched her joyfully zoom around the play yard at top speeds and bounce gleefully into a kiddie pool filled with plastic balls. “She was beyond happy,” says Rhonda.

[Hero dog with traumatic past gets his own party at Dogtown]

And not long after, she went home.

Rhonda hadn’t been looking to adopt. In fact, she already had a dog at home who could be particular about new companions. But something about Llorona stayed with her. And with help from the Dogtown behavior team and a little patience, Rhonda decided to give it a try.

The adjustment didn’t take long. Within a week, the two dogs were romping around the yard, sharing space, toys, and the occasional zoomie burst. “She’s just got this amazing spirit,” says Rhonda. “To go through everything she did and still be so joyful — it’s really something.”

Once she settled into her new home, it became clear she had some puppyhood to catch up on. “It seemed to me she needed to live her childhood,” Rhonda says. “For an older puppy, she had to put everything in her mouth, chew everything — it was like she’d hit the toddler stage late. But that phase is coming to an end. She’s doing amazing.”

These days, Llorona is a regular at training classes, where she continues to impress. “Even the trainer can’t believe how social she is, given her start,” Rhonda says. “She’s so connected with people. So sweet. I’m so glad I took a chance on her. She’s such a good pup.”

Now, Llorona hikes trails, rolls in the grass, and soaks up every messy, wonderful moment. She lives out loud — no more walls, no more windows between her and the world. She spent her puppyhood watching from the wings. Now she’s center stage in her own wild rumpus.

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.