Some dogs go through their entire lives without ever experiencing true affection. Instead, they are trapped in cycles of abuse and neglect. Sadly, only a handful manage to break free from such dismal conditions.
Dogs that have been mistreated often appear aggressive, which only leads to further negative treatment. Most of these dogs tragically end up in shelters where they are unjustly marked for euthanasia by their owners.
A particularly sad story emerged from California, involving a senior dog named Ollie who was on the brink of such a fate. Despite being completely mistreated and showing severe aggression, Ollie’s life took a turn when one man decided to give him a chance.
Ollie’s Heartbreaking Story
Source: Cathi Perez
When Sal Valdepeña, founder of Balooja’s Foundation in Upland, California, first encountered Ollie, the dog seemed beyond help. At over 15 years old, Ollie was extremely aggressive due to years of mistreatment; he would growl and bark at anyone who came close.
However, Sal didn’t turn away. He took Ollie to his facility and eventually found him a perfect foster home—and a perfect new mom.
Cathi Perez, an experienced dog lover and foster, was thrilled to take Ollie in. When they first met, Ollie was in terrible shape: his fur was matted, he was covered in feces, and he could barely stand due to an old injury.
Cathi described the first meeting: “He was filthy, matted, covered with feces and urine-stained, could not walk, was extremely aggressive, lunging and thrashing at anyone and anything nearby. He was on the fast track to being euthanized.”
Despite his poor condition and defensive behavior, Ollie was in his golden years. For the first few days, he would just lie in his customized pen, growling at Cathi, unwilling to let her touch him due to his past mistreatment.
Source: Cathi Perez
A Journey of Ups and Downs
After an initial veterinary exam, Ollie was put on multiple medications for his pain and anxiety. These started to help, and soon he could stand for short periods. While he still had a long road ahead, there were clear signs of improvement.
With his foster mom’s constant love and support, Ollie gradually began to understand what love felt like. He allowed her to clean his pen and even started enjoying gentle pats on his back.
However, it wasn’t a smooth transition. Ollie would often revert to his old self, struggling between his traumatic past and the new, caring environment. But Cathi remained patient.
Source: Cathi Perez
“He isn’t always receptive, but he is much more at ease and relaxed now, thanks to his medications which relieve his pain and anxiety,” Cathi shared on social media.
Despite the ongoing challenges, Cathi’s patience and support never wavered. She decided not just to foster Ollie temporarily, but to become his forever mom.
Love and Kindness as a Final Gift
Sal and Cathi continued to bring Ollie to his regular vet appointments and manage his medications. Unfortunately, the vet informed them that Ollie didn’t have much time left due to his advanced age and condition.
In his final days, however, Ollie started to show signs of happiness. His sad eyes began to sparkle with joy, and for the first time, his tail wagged in happiness. He realized that he was finally in a safe and loving home.
Cathi dedicated herself to making Ollie’s last days as comfortable and loving as possible. Despite his traumatic past, Ollie was able to enjoy genuine care and affection in his final moments.
“His life was filled with neglect, abuse, and abandonment, but we all rallied around him. He crossed over gently while I whispered to him, ‘I love you,'” Cathi wrote in a heartfelt Facebook post.
Though Cathi was heartbroken by the loss, she was grateful to have been there for Ollie in his final days. More importantly, she was thankful that his last memories were filled with love, as they always should have been.
Ollie’s story is a poignant reminder of the transformative power of love and the difference one person can make in the life of a mistreated animal. Rest in peace, good boy.
