Shadow’s Story
Shadow’s journey from a fearful of everything puppy to a dog named LEO!
Shadow’s journey began on the streets of San Felipe, Guatemala. A friend found him wandering, a skinny, malnourished puppy too afraid to approach. It took several attempts before she could lure him into her car and bring him home. For a month he stayed with her, nameless, fearful of everything, and struggling to put on weight.
At the same time, I had two litters of sick and vulnerable puppies at my house. To protect them—and the rest of my dogs—from possible diseases like parvo, distemper, or other unknown illnesses, I asked my friend to hold onto a few pups. Among them was this timid little one.
The first time I met him, I noticed how he flinched at every sound and movement. Almost jokingly, I said aloud, “He’s scared of everything—even his own shadow... Shadow.” At the sound of the word, his ears perked, his head lifted, and in that moment, he had a name. Shadow.
He was heartbreakingly thin—so skinny he looked like he cast no shadow at all. His ribs stuck out, his hips jutted like small mountains, and his shoulder blades pressed sharply through his camel-colored coat. He preferred women over men, but slowly warmed up with treats and the presence of other dogs. When I introduced him to my pack, they barked, sniffed, and tested him one by one. To my relief, Shadow began wagging and even playing a little.
Our dogs’ diet at the time was simple but nourishing: avocados, eggs, coconut oil, and some Purina dog food. Within the first week, Shadow gained four pounds. Slowly, the bones that once defined him began to fade under healthy weight and muscle.
One week later, when we went back to pick up the other puppies, Shadow came with us. My friend was shocked to see him running happily with our dogs. She asked, “Whose dog is that playing with mine?” I smiled and said, “That’s your dog — Shadow. But he’s with us now, and we’ll find him a forever home.”
Over the next four months, Shadow transformed. He learned commands in both English and Spanish, trained on and off leash, and gained confidence around people, dogs, and even loud noises that once terrified him. The timid, skeletal puppy grew into a strong, proud, and happy dog.
And then, the best part—Shadow, now renamed Leo, found his forever home with one of our volunteers from England. As soon as the pandemic lifted, he made the journey across the world to begin a new life in the UK.
From scared and starving to loved and thriving, Shadow’s story is proof of what food, love, and shelter can do. It’s all dogs need—and it’s what every dog deserves.