Plus, nine surprises hidden nearby
By Sarah Ashley
Published on June 16, 2025 at 2:49 PM
At the end of May, a call came into the Arizona Humane Society (AHS) about a dog tied to a fence on a short leash. She was panting heavily, stuck in direct sunlight with no water. The outside temperature was 99 degrees Fahrenheit. Alarmed, AHS escalated the call and sent an investigator out immediately.
What the investigator found was even more distressing than expected.
The dog was tied to a chain-link fence, struggling to stand on a small strip of dirt to keep off the scorching pavement. The investigator could see she was nursing and that there must be puppies somewhere nearby. There were also brightly colored leopard print spots painted all over her body.
The dog was extremely friendly. “Even a friendly dog that is tethered or chained out sometimes will be defensive, because it’s a very vulnerable position for them to be in,” Ruthie Jesus, field manager at AHS, told The Dodo. “She was not like that.”
The investigator gave her water and placed a towel on the pavement, which measured 133 degrees Fahrenheit. Instantly, the dog gulped water and lay on the towel.
Police were able to locate the dog’s owner, who claimed they’d taken her in as a stray about a month earlier. Then they led the AHS investigator to the puppies.
Inside their home were nine puppies, barely 3 weeks old. They should have been close to their mother and able to nurse throughout the day. “So, at that point, the owner did make the decision that they were not able to care for [the dogs] appropriately moving forward,” Jesus said. “They chose to surrender [them] immediately.”
Once in AHS’ care, the dog, who is about 5 years old, and her babies went straight to Lazin Animal Foundation Trauma Hospital for evaluation. Veterinary staff used cold towels to cool her down. She needs to gain some weight so she can keep nursing her babies, but she will be OK.
Jesus is beyond grateful for the Good Samaritan who called AHS about the dog, whom the staff named Rainbow Brite and are calling her puppies Sprites. All 10 dogs are now in a comfortable foster home, where they’ll remain together until the puppies are at least 8 weeks old.
https://volume.thedodo.com/embed/1dc2db8d4?autoplay=false&loop=true&placement=article&player_type=chorus&tracking=article:lede&privacy_consent=allArizona Humane Society
And those wild leopard spots? Jesus believes the former owner had those painted on Rainbow Brite purely for vanity. She’s not suffering any inflammation or irritation, so they’re just for show until they eventually fade away, hopefully taking the memory of this close call with them.
If you’d like to adopt Rainbow Brite or any of her Sprites when they become available, you can fill out an application on the Arizona Humane Society website.
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Shelter Puppy Sprints Toward Adopters — Then Gets Her Heart Broken A Week Later
“[S]he was just a little too much for them.”
Lucky Charm, a 5-month-old puppy, has been living at the Benton-Franklin Humane Society since early July. In the time she’s spent at the shelter, all the staff and volunteers have fallen in love with her enthusiastic, lively personality.
“She is super playful,” Julie Saraceno, a volunteer at Benton-Franklin Humane Society, told The Dodo. “She is obsessed with toys.”
Despite her adorable looks and infectious energy, Lucky has been having trouble getting adopted. While she’s only been at the shelter for a little under two months, that’s a long time for a dog her age.
“I think it’s especially hard for puppies when they land in the shelter, just because they’re so high-energy,” Saraceno said. “It’s so sad to see her stuck in a kennel all day.”
To give Lucky a bit of a break from the humane society environment, Saraceno recently took her on a little adventure. Lucky was thrilled to get to partake in all the normal dog things she’d been missing out on, like an exhilarating car ride and a tasty pup cup.
“She loved getting the pup cup,” Saraceno said. “She probably never had one before because she’s just a puppy.”
One day, a family came into the shelter, fell in love with Lucky and decided to take her home. When it was time for Lucky to leave with her adopters, she was so happy that she sprinted toward the doors.
“I was so excited that she was going to get her own family and everything,” Saraceno said.
But just a week later, Lucky was returned. Her adopters decided that she wasn’t a good fit for their family.
“[S]he was just a little too much for them,” Saraceno said.
As heartbroken as Saraceno and the other volunteers were to see Lucky returned to the shelter, they were happy that she at least got a little time to stretch her legs outside her kennel.
“It’s good that she got a break from the shelter, but it still doesn’t make me any less sad,” Saraceno said.
Now Lucky is just waiting for the day when she’ll get to leave the shelter for good. She’d do best with someone who’s experienced with high-energy dogs, who can provide her with the training and structure she needs to thrive.
“She loves people,” Saraceno said. “She loves other dogs. I think with the right guidance, she would be the perfect family dog.”
If you’re interested in adopting Lucky, you can check out her adoption profile here.
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