Here’s what Happened to Cassie…🥺 | PUPDATE
If you’ve been following Sitting With Dogs, then you already know these stories stick with you. The dogs, their pasts, their progress. Some of them haunt you until you finally get to write a new chapter for them. And today, that’s exactly what we’re doing.
This PupDate episode is a special one. We’re following up with seven incredible dogs: Cassie, Milo, Kaya, Alex, Franklin, Ralph, and Pickles. If you’ve ever wondered what happened to that matted dog, or that trembling soul tucked in a corner, this is your answer. And I promise, it’s worth the read.
1. Cassie: From Critical Condition to Cherished Companion
Backstory
Cassie’s story starts with one of the most haunting intake photos I’ve ever received. Her face was blurry, but the injury to her eye was unmistakable—red, inflamed, and protruding unnaturally. At first glance, I thought her eye had been gouged out. When I saw her in person, it was clear she was in pain, but somehow still gentle. She let Mel, the shelter groomer, start bathing and grooming her with no resistance. That willingness to be touched, even while suffering, told me everything I needed to know.
Cassie is a Border Collie mix, probably about 8 or 9 years old. When she came in, she was severely underweight, had mammary tumors, and the tissue around her eye was necrotic and infected. A vet later confirmed that the eye issue was related to cancerous tissue, and she also had signs of long-term neglect. Her nails were curled under, her coat was matted, and sores dotted her thin frame.
It wasn’t just the visible injuries. Cassie had been living with this for a long time. Someone had allowed her to deteriorate to the point where she could barely see or walk comfortably. But she still trusted us. She leaned into Mel. She looked me in the eyes. And I knew—we had to try.
Pupdate
We rushed her to Pet Emerge, where their incredible team got to work. First, her mammary tumors were removed. Then her eye. The vet explained that the eye itself was still technically present, but she had no eyelid left. It would never heal and was constantly drying out and causing her pain. The tissue was confirmed to be cancerous. One of the vet techs said something that stuck with me: “Cassie is a hospice baby. She may not have a whole lot of time left, but she’s the best girl ever.”
And she is. She really is.
Once she recovered enough from surgery, the staff at Pet Emerge surprised her with a graduation party. They made her a cap and gown. Gave her treats. Posed for pictures. It was everything a dog like Cassie deserves and so rarely gets.
But the most incredible moment came when Mel—yes, the same shelter groomer who first saw Cassie—said four words I’ll never forget: “I’m taking her home.”
Mel had recently lost her husband. The grief was still fresh. She told me, “I think we need each other.” And she was right. She adopted Cassie as a hospice pup, knowing the journey might be short but determined to fill it with love, peace, and comfort.
Now, Cassie has her own soft bed. She goes on slow walks. She lays in the sun. She is adored. She’s not a case file or a kennel number anymore. She’s family.
We even created merch in her honor to help with her ongoing medical care—a little heart covering the spot where her eye used to be. Every time I see someone wearing that tee, I remember her strength.
Cassie didn’t just survive. She found her person. She found her home. And in doing so, she reminded all of us why we keep sitting with dogs.
2. Milo: The Matted Pup Who Hid from Kindness
Backstory
When I first met Milo, he was all teeth and terror. And it wasn’t his fault. His fur was so matted with burrs and foxtails that just the act of touching him caused pain. He had been failed by humans long before he ended up in that shelter kennel.
The staff couldn’t even do a basic health exam on him. He was terrified, reactive, and shut down. But there was something in his eyes that said, “Please help. I just don’t know how to ask.”
Pupdate
We sedated him and Mel got to work, carefully shaving off the mats. Once the pain was gone, Milo started to thaw. Slowly. The first sign? A little tail wag when we let him play in a yard with other pups.
And then came Sharon.
Sharon adopted Milo and gave him what every dog craves: consistency. Now, Milo follows her around the house, has his own cozy hideaway behind her makeup station, and greets her with the kind of loyalty that only a rescue dog can offer. The transformation? Night and day.
3. Kaya (Formerly Kay): The Boxer Who Needed Someone to Believe Her
Backstory
Kay came in labeled as a potential “dangerous dog.” She was one of four Boxers surrendered after an incident with a puppy in the home. No one knew which dog was responsible, so all four were dumped at the shelter.
Kay didn’t act aggressive. She acted scared. When I sat with her, she barked and growled at first, but the moment I tossed her a treat, she stopped. She was recently pregnant, underweight, and wary. But she wasn’t dangerous. She was misunderstood.
Pupdate
Brad and Sandy saw through the fear. They rushed to adopt her, renamed her Kaya, and brought her into a loving home. And guess what? She dances in the mornings now. She snuggles. She trusts.
Sometimes, all a dog needs is someone to say, “I believe in you.”
4. Alex: Left on a Bench, Now Curled on a Couch
Backstory
Alex was dumped outside a shelter, tied to a bench with another German Shepherd. It was all caught on camera. No microchip, no name. Just abandonment.
She was scared. She searched for the dog she came in with. She paced, whimpered, and tried to understand why the humans she trusted had left her behind.
Pupdate
One woman saw her story online and drove hours just to meet her. She adopted Alex and introduced her to her existing pack slowly, respectfully. Today, Alex is a different dog. Confident, joyful, and deeply bonded to her new family. Her PupDate? A forever home.
5. Franklin (Now Winston): The Tough Guy With a Tender Heart
Backstory
Franklin came in hot. Barking, growling, and hiding behind bravado. At under 10 pounds, he was small but mighty. And terrified.
We introduced him to other confident dogs, gave him slow exposure to walks, and eventually, he stopped trying to fight the world. He just needed to feel safe.
Pupdate
After being pulled by Haven Pet Center, Franklin (now Winston) met Marie. She wasn’t sure she was ready for another dog. But Winston was. He follows her around the house, naps in her lap, and has become her tiny, fearless shadow. Sometimes it just clicks.
6. Ralph: The Sad-Eyed Husky Pup
Backstory
Ralph was found alone in a business park. No ID, no chip. Just a baby husky with sadness pouring from his eyes. He wouldn’t take treats. He didn’t bark. He barely moved.
Pupdate
Susan took a chance on him. She visited him at the rescue and sat with him for over an hour. She adopted him, and yes—it was a foster fail.
Now Ralph watches the world from his porch, wags his tail at joggers, and continues to heal. Slowly but surely.
7. Pickles: A Shy Chiweenie With a Big Heart
Backstory
Pickles was found in a park, curled up in the corner of a kennel, shaking. He was maybe five months old, and already full of fear. He had been found with another dog, likely a sibling, but no one came looking.
Pupdate
Lucky Chi Rescue stepped in, and while his buddy was adopted quickly, Pickles struggled. He failed his first meet-and-greet. But progress isn’t linear.
Then came James and his wonderful family. With four kids and a little Chi sister named Lexi, Pickles found his place. Tug-of-war, zoomies, and love. Pure, goofy love.
To everyone who adopted, fostered, donated, or just watched and shared these stories: thank you. These dogs didn’t just find homes. They found healing.
And we’re not done yet.
—Rocky 🐾
