Meleys the rescue dog, named after a dragon in House of the Dragon, has the heart of a powerful fighter.
Twenty Paws Rescue of New York City and the tri-state area first met the pup during one of her weakest moments.
“She was brought into the shelter on a stretcher because she was too weak and thin to walk or stand,” Rachel, the co-founder and president of Twenty Paws, tells PEOPLE.
Meleys arrived at the rescue in November from a shelter in Newark, New Jersey, that wasn’t equipped to provide the neglected dog with the care she needed. The Newark shelter found the dog starving in the cold and “laying in her own excrement.” It is unclear how Meleys ended up in this situation, but her rescuers suspect “heartless and disgusting” abuse contributed to the dog’s sad situation.
Rachel took one look at Meleys lying on the stretcher at Twenty Paws and knew, “This girl needed a miracle.” So she started contacting Twenty Paws’ most experienced fosters, searching for a temporary home for the dog where she could focus solely on healing.
Twenty Paws Rescue
A Massachusetts-based foster named Donna eagerly accepted the offer to help Meleys and drove to New Jersey to collect the pup and begin the pet’s recovery.
“She is a superhero,” Rachel says of Donna.
Before leaving with Donna, Meleys received stabilizing treatment from Twenty Paws’ veterinarians and a name from Rachel.
“I am a true Game of Thrones nerd, and when I saw her fight, strength, and resilience, it was clear that we had someone truly special. Meleys in House of Dragons was a devoted and loyal warrior to her human. We felt like the perfect namesake for this pup,” the rescue president says of how Meleys got her moniker.
Twenty Paws Rescue
“When she arrived at the shelter, she was emotionally and physically checked out. Life was leaving her body, but her spirit refused to let go. Even as the shelter team carried her in on the stretcher, she was still so gentle and sweet,” Rachel adds.
Despite being forced “to endure more than anyone should in a lifetime,” 11-month-old Meleys departed for Donna’s foster home with a “trusting and affectionate” attitude.
Meleys cautiously regained weight and strength at her foster home and learned how to be a happy, carefree dog.
“Once she entered our care and foster home, we started a feeding routine of smaller meals (in a slow feeder) to help her slowly gain weight and strength. She stocked up on some much-needed rest. Once she started gaining weight and energy, Meleys was introduced to the foster’s resident dogs,” Rachel says.
Twenty Paws Rescue
Aside from a brief bout of kennel cough, Meleys’ recovery has been marked with one success after another. Soon, the dog regained enough strength to undergo her spay surgery, and now she is ready to find her forever home.
Twenty Paws Rescue
“She’s doing great! She’s sweet and playful and so fun! The puppy she’s supposed to be. We got her at about 15 pounds, and now she’s a healthy 45 pounds,” Rachel shares, adding that the pup is light years from the “defeated” dog Twenty Paws welcomed last November.
“When she was first found, she had no energy, no will, no umph, and understandably so. But this baby diva had other plans! Now, she’s playful, wrestling with one of the resident dogs,” the Twenty Paws co-founder continues.
Twenty Paws Rescue
According to Rachel, Meleys is ready to find her permanent home in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maine, Delaware, Vermont, New Hampshire, or Maryland. Meleys is excellent with other dogs and has no underlying health issues now that she is fully healed.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
“Dogs are strong and resilient; their ability to love is not hindered by mistreatment or abuse. Meleys is a loving, kind, gentle dog despite what humans did to her. These guys deserve a chance!” Rachel adds.
Animal lovers can learn more about adopting Meleys and supporting Twenty Paws’ lifesaving work at the animal rescue’s website.
This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.
