Mommie’s Story
Mommie’s Journey: From the Streets of Guatemala to a Forever Home in New York
Almost a year ago, we rescued Mommie from the streets of San Felipe, Guatemala. Over five days, I received more than 11 WhatsApp and Facebook messages about a starving female dog with her body worn down, her belly dragging on the cement. She had recently given birth, but her puppies were gone.
We later learned the truth: Mommie had spent years as a victim of cruelty. A local family involved in breeding pitbulls for dog fights had used her as a “breeding machine.” She had been beaten, tied up, and forced to endure litter after litter. Some of her teeth had been knocked out so she couldn’t defend herself against other dogs—or her abusers. To keep her in a savage state, she was reportedly given half-dead or injured dogs to “finish off.”
When word spread that locals planned to kill her, we knew we had to act. Two of our volunteers drove out one Tuesday morning. Just a few streets from the main road, they spotted her exactly where she was said to be. They parked the truck, set down a crate, and offered food. Mommie, wary but hungry, walked toward them. Within minutes, she allowed a rope to be slipped around her neck and calmly stepped into the crate—almost as if she knew her chance had finally come.
But as the volunteers lifted her into the truck, neighbors shouted in Spanish: “You can’t take our dog!” The scene grew tense, voices rose, people gathered. Still, the volunteers held firm and drove away. The moment Mommie entered our home, she was safe.
She was nothing but bones—21 pounds of frailty, her spirit broken. Yet she still held her head high. For six months, we gave her what she had been denied her whole life: food, love, and shelter. She ate, she rested in the sun, and slowly, she healed. When she was strong enough, she joined our pack—eating alongside six other dogs, walking proudly, and learning that humans could be kind. By then, she weighed 54 pounds, had been fully vaccinated and spayed, and showed us how gentle and loving she truly was.
Mommie was special. Many people showed interest in adopting her, but none were the right fit. We were determined that her next chapter would be one of safety, never again of exploitation.
That’s when Ulster County Canines in New York stepped in to help. Getting her there was not easy—pitbulls cannot fly as cargo, and airlines restrict their travel. But with the dedication of a volunteer named Mark, who bonded deeply with Mommie, we found a way. With an ESA (Emotional Support Animal) certificate, Mommie was able to board a plane, walk into a new country, and step into her new life.
Ulster County Canines found her the perfect forever home with a kind man in upstate New York, surrounded by lakes, state parks, and mountains. Soon after her arrival, she experienced her first snowfall—a fitting symbol of her fresh start.
After five years of suffering, Mommie now lives the life every dog deserves: safe, loved, and free.