AS OUR MARY SALADNA FOUND OUT. TAILS WERE WAGGING TODAY AT THE HOTEL FOR HOMELESS DOGS IN CUMBERLAND, RHODE ISLAND. CAN YOU SIT? FIVE YEAR OLD DARLA AND THREE YEAR OLD SPANKY, A PAIR OF BONDED DOGS MADE HOMELESS BY HEARTACHE, ARE FINALLY GETTING ADOPTED. THEY LOVE OUR BACKYARD. FAMILY AND FRIENDS GATHERED TODAY TO MARK THIS BITTERSWEET MILESTONE. IT WAS A DIFFICULT JOURNEY THAT REQUIRED PATIENCE AND A LOT OF LOVE. THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SITUATION PLAYED INTO IT. YOU KNOW, I THINK PEOPLE SOMETIMES FORGOT THEY WERE THERE. THERE WHEN THEIR FIRST OWNER, LAUREN MARINO, WAS KILLED IN HER HAVERHILL HOME IN MARCH OF 2024. FRIENDS SAY LAUREN WAS DEVOTED TO HER DOGS AND BOTH PUPS CAME AWAY TRAUMATIZED. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE. LAUREN AND THE WORRY SHE WOULD HAVE FOR THESE DOGS. LOOK AT THAT FACE. IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR ME THAT WE WERE ABLE TO CLOSE THIS CHAPTER FOR HER, BUT WE HAD TO CLOSE IT, RIGHT? SUSAN JOSEPH SAID PLACING THESE DOGS WAS COMPLICATED FOR MANY REASONS, BUT SHE REALLY WANTED TO GET THE RIGHT FIT. SHE FELT SHE OWED THEIR LATE OWNER NOTHING LESS. SPANKY DIDN’T LOVE MEN, SO WE HAD TO FIND A MAN THAT HE FELT SAFE WITH. SO THIS WAS A VERY LARGE LAYER. THE OTHER DOGS STARTED BARKING AT HER. HE RUNS RIGHT BACK THERE, BUT BOTH DOGS TOOK IMMEDIATELY TO MIKE POLLOCK AND KAREN ROY. I MEAN, EVERYONE’S THANKING US FOR TAKING THEM IN, BUT THEY HAVE WARMED UP TO US IMMEDIATELY. IT’S TWO TIMES AS MUCH LOVE AS I THOUGHT. THE COUPLE SAYS IT’S AN HONOR TO CARE FOR DARLA AND SPANKY, AND THEY WILL ALWAYS DO SO. IN LAUREN’S MEMORY. I HOPE SHE CAN REST EASY BECAUSE WE WILL LOVE THEM. IN CUMBERLAND, RHODE ISLAND. I’M MARY SALADNA WCVB NEWSCENTER FIVE. WHAT A SWEET SENDOFF, MARY. THANK YOU. BY THE WAY, SAFELINK IS MASSACHUSETTS STATEWIDE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE. IT’S A RESOURCE FOR ANYONE AFFECTED BY DOMESTIC OR DATING VIOLENCE. THE NUMBERS RIGHT THERE ON YOUR SCREEN 18777
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2 dogs finally adopted by Massachusetts family 1 year after murder of first owner
Updated: 10:17 PM EDT Apr 17, 2025
Two dogs were finally adopted by a Massachusetts family one year after the murder of their first owner in March 2024. Loren Marino, 24, of Haverhill, was found dead in a home along with her boyfriend, after an apparent murder-suicide, authorities said. She left behind her two dogs, Darla, 5, and Spanky, 3, whose adoption process was completed Thursday at the Hotel for Homeless Dogs in Cumberland, Rhode Island.”The domestic violence situation played into it. You know, I think people sometimes forget they were there,” Hotel for Homeless Dogs Executive Director Susan Joseph said.Friends say Marino was devoted to her dogs, who both came away from the scene, traumatized. “I can only imagine Loren and the worry she would have for these dogs,” Joseph said. “It was really important for me to close this chapter for her, but we had to close it right.” Joseph said that placing the dogs was complicated for several reasons, and she really wanted to find the right home for them. She felt she owed their late owner nothing less. “Spanky didn’t love men, so we had to find a man that he felt safe with, so this was a very large layer,” Joseph said.Both dogs took immediately to Mike Pollock and Karen Roy.. “I mean, everyone’s thanking us for taking them in, but they have warmed up to us immediately,” Roy said. “It’s two times as much love as I thought.”The couple says it’s an honor to care for Darla and Spanky, and they will always do so, in Loren’s memory. “I hope she can rest easy because we will love them,” Roy said.If you or someone you know needs help, there is a Massachusetts Domestic Violence Hotline, ‘SafeLink,’ available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 877-785-2020.
Two dogs were finally adopted by a Massachusetts family one year after the murder of their first owner in March 2024.
Loren Marino, 24, of Haverhill, was found dead in a home along with her boyfriend, after an apparent murder-suicide, authorities said.
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She left behind her two dogs, Darla, 5, and Spanky, 3, whose adoption process was completed Thursday at the Hotel for Homeless Dogs in Cumberland, Rhode Island.
“The domestic violence situation played into it. You know, I think people sometimes forget they were there,” Hotel for Homeless Dogs Executive Director Susan Joseph said.
Friends say Marino was devoted to her dogs, who both came away from the scene, traumatized.
“I can only imagine Loren and the worry she would have for these dogs,” Joseph said. “It was really important for me to close this chapter for her, but we had to close it right.”
Joseph said that placing the dogs was complicated for several reasons, and she really wanted to find the right home for them. She felt she owed their late owner nothing less.
“Spanky didn’t love men, so we had to find a man that he felt safe with, so this was a very large layer,” Joseph said.
Both dogs took immediately to Mike Pollock and Karen Roy..
“I mean, everyone’s thanking us for taking them in, but they have warmed up to us immediately,” Roy said. “It’s two times as much love as I thought.”
The couple says it’s an honor to care for Darla and Spanky, and they will always do so, in Loren’s memory.
“I hope she can rest easy because we will love them,” Roy said.
If you or someone you know needs help, there is a Massachusetts Domestic Violence Hotline, ‘SafeLink,’ available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 877-785-2020.
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