https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=/I2yk2Ya8MAQ
In 2024, just days before Christmas, a Good Samaritan found an emaciated pit bull on the side of the road covered with lacerations and burn wounds. The dog, later named Peppermint, was rescued by the NYPD and brought to the ASPCA for lifesaving care.
“Peppermint was a very sick dog when he was brought to us. He had been out in the cold for an unknown amount of time, and his temperature was very low,” recalled Dr. Aubrey Crowley, an ASPCA veterinarian in charge of Peppermint’s care. “He had several scabs on his head and ears, and discoloration of his ears, consistent with early stages of frostbite. He was mentally dull and incredibly weak, unable to stand for more than a second.”
Peppermint was also very dehydrated, anemic and showed multiple signs of shock. In addition, he had a deep infected wound wrapping around the entire underside of his neck, likely from an old, embedded collar.
Due to how critically ill he was, Peppermint required immediate intensive care. Dr. Crowley began warming him up to get his temperature back to a normal range. To improve his low blood pressure, dehydration and anemia, Peppermint was given IV fluids and a blood transfusion.
“The first day he arrived, he was too unstable to sedate, so I quickly cleaned his neck wound with gauze and scrub and wrapped it, as well as started IV antibiotics,” explained Dr. Crowley. “The next day, his vitals were greatly improved, so we sedated him to take full body x-rays and address his neck wound. Sadly, we found he had a fracture in his left hindlimb as well as his right pelvis.”
For the days following, Peppermint stayed in ICU to have daily bandage changes for his neck wound until it was clean and small enough to close with sutures.
Since Peppermint was also emaciated, he was started on a refeeding protocol, which is designed to reduce the risk of life-threatening complications when a starved dog is reintroduced to food, as well as provide supplementation of vitamins that are often deficient in starved animals. Dr. Crowley also started him on gastric support due to the concern he had a gastric bleed from his state of shock.
Peppermint at varying stages of healing.
After Peppermint showed signs of improvement, he was moved to the ASPCA Animal Recovery Center to continue to recover and gain weight. Once his weight had improved, he had a surgery called a femoral head osteotomy to address his left hindlimb fracture.
After his surgery, part of his recovery involved twice-daily physical therapy for six weeks to help strengthen his left hindlimb and rebuild muscle.
Despite how much pain and trauma he endured, Peppermint was incredibly sweet through all his treatment, quickly snuggling his way into staff hearts.
“Peppermint was one of my favorites, I really loved that dog,” said Dr. Crowley. “It is not an exaggeration to say he was angelic for all of his treatments. Any attention was good attention to him, whether it was a bandage change, his physical therapy or extra scratches during cage-side rechecks. He would pop out of his kennel to jump on you and give you kisses.
Physical therapy isn’t always easy for a dog to do, because it requires some mild discomfort, but Peppermint was a champion. He was very food motivated and would do all his exercises for treats and pets.”
Regaining Strength
After about three months of constant care, Peppermint showed significant improvement. He had gained 15 pounds — 50 percent of his intake weight — his neck wounds completely healed and he was walking well on his left hind leg.
“He had a few residual scars on his skin that were reminders of what he went through, but aside from that, he looked like a very robust, healthy young dog,” Dr. Crowley remembered.
With his health in order, it was time for Peppermint to try out living in a home, so he was sent to a loving foster home. There, he showed just how ready he was for adoption. He was put on our adoption page where his adorable photo caught the eye of someone over six hours away.
An Immediate Connection
Sherry and Kevin K. sadly laid their 14-year-old pit bull, Spike, to rest in the summer of 2024. It took a large toll on the family, especially Kevin, but after a few months had passed, Sherry felt like she was ready to love again.
Sherry began her search for a new pup, looking specifically for a pit bull.
“I’m on a lot of recue sites and low and behold the ASPCA came up — which had never come up for me previously — and I saw Peppermint,” recalled Sherry. “It was his appearance, and then reading about him really tugged at my heartstrings. I said to my husband, ‘Please read this. It would mean we’d have to take a six-hour ride. Before I go any further, are you willing to make the trip?’”
“I was still a little heartbroken after our last dog,” explained Kevin. “He was my best friend and with me at work every day. When she started wanting a dog, I said, ‘I’ll be okay with having another dog, but that’s going to be your dog, not my dog this time.’”
“Well, that didn’t last too long!” Kevin laughed.
The couple made the six-hour drive to the ASPCA Adoption Center in New York City from their home in upstate New York and the moment they laid eyes on Peppermint, they knew he was the one.
“We walked in and saw him sitting with his fosters and just his spirit, we just knew!” Sherry said. “We loved the sound of him, his story, loved to be able to take him (no offense New Yorkers) out of the city into the country where he could be free and run and not be in a kennel. All of those things combined, we were thrilled.”
Sherry, Kevin and Peppermint on adoption day.
“We stopped at White Castle on the way home, and I was feeding him a burger, and he was just so gentle. We knew right away that he was ours,” said Kevin.
Room to Roam
Marking the exciting new chapter in his life, Sherry and Kevin renamed Peppermint.
“My son-in-law had said when he was growing up, he always wanted a red nose pit bull and wanted to name him Rudy,” Sherry explained. “I told him we could do that! You know, Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer at Christmas time, so we call him Rudy!”
In his new life, Rudy gets all the outdoor time any dog could dream of! Within the first few days he was running circles around the property.
“He doesn’t see a leash ever. He’s got a lot of acreage to run but he always comes running back when you call him,” Kevin told us.
Rudy has also met Sherry and Kevin’s grandchildren whom he adores — and they adore him right back!
“Rudy is well socialized, he is perfect with our grandkids or any little kid that comes up and wants to pet him,” said Kevin. “Our grandson is three and he’s just jumping on him, playing with his ears and Rudy just lays there and takes it all. He lets everyone love on him. He just loves to be with people! He’s got a sweet heart.”
Rudy does suffer from separation anxiety, but Sherry and Kevin are working on it with him.
“It’s because he was abandoned,” said Sherry. “It’s amazing what an impression it made on him. We’re hoping it will reverse for him in time. We’ll always come back no matter what.
Warming Hearts
Kevin and Sherry’s kids have all grown up and moved out of their home, so bringing Rudy in has created a new source of joy for them both — despite Kevin’s initial belief that Rudy would be Sherry’s dog!
But they’re not just feeling joyful with Rudy by their side, they’re also feeling grateful.
“A lot of people buy puppies and spend a lot of money on them, but there are so many of these guys out there that need good homes,” explained Kevin. “We missed out on that puppy time, but this is so much deeper than that. We’re really giving him a good life, the life he should’ve had to begin with.”
“We’re helping the big cause by just taking one puppy, one dog, one life,” added Sherry. “God’s greatest gift to us as humans is a dog. There’s no coincidence that it’s God spelled backwards.”
“And they thank you every day for it. I think humans don’t give animals enough credit. All species of animals, they just don’t,” Kevin jumped back in. “I’m also grateful to the fosters of Rudy. They gave us a lot of information and took good care of him.”
Having had a front row of Rudy’s journey from very ill to thriving in the countryside, Dr. Crowley is moved by his transformation.
“Dogs never fail to blow me away with their capacity to forgive and trust again, and Rudy was a shining example of that,” Dr. Crowley said. “He was dumped after enduring tremendous pain and prolonged starvation and yet all he wanted from the moment he arrived was to love and be loved. I’m thrilled with the home and family he found. Of course, I care about every animal that comes across my path, but certain animals leave big impressions on my heart. Rudy was one of those dogs.”
She added, “It is emotionally taxing to treat these cases. The teams at the ASPCA that work specifically with our NYPD partnership often see the worst of what humanity can do to animals. Rudy was an example of that, discarded like an object rather than treated as a living, breathing creature. But the successful outcomes make it all worth it. Seeing him getting another chance to have the life he deserves fills me with joy and gives me the drive to keep doing this work.”
“Rudy won the New York Mega Millions!” Sherry told us.
“And we did too!” said Kevin.
Help More Hungry Animals Like Rudy
In just one year, hundreds of hungry or emaciated animals like Rudy come through our doors. That’s why this year we are introducing a goal of 100,000 meals for animals in need by Thanksgiving. As we prepare for holiday festivities, we’re asking ASPCA supporters to open their hearts to hungry animals with a special gift toward our Holiday Food Drive to help us reach this goal.
These generous gifts don’t just fill empty bowls, they also help provide treatment for sick animals, help homeless dogs and cats find loving home and so much more! Learn more at aspca.org/hungryanimals.
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