Florence, formerly known as Dominique, arrived at the sanctuary, and we were blown away by what dogs can endure and yet still look for the good in people.

This 11-year-old Cane Corso was seized by Animal Control along with three other dogs from a horrific situation. Covered in dirt, malnourished, and clearly never knowing the comfort of indoor life, Florence had only known neglect and despair.

Having never visited the vet, Florence had multiple medical issues, such as dermatitis, entropion (pain associated with eyelids scratching the eye), and tooth decay. Calvert County brought her in for medical treatment, where she was treated for the dermatitis and underwent surgery to fix her eyelids, remove 11 decayed teeth, and get spayed. She had been through so much, but they wanted to give her some hope for the future.

Florence came to us shortly after that, and despite all the neglect and health issues, Florence only wanted to lean next to people and receive love. She deserved that and so much more. A life of kindness is all she wanted without the threat of abuse and neglect, and she found it here at the sanctuary, even if it was just for a short time. We laid her to rest last week when we discovered she had bloat, and there was nothing that could be done.

When unspeakable things happen to these dogs, we find ourselves questioning humanity and wanting to rage at the world. However, Florence reacted differently. She demonstrated unconditional love for humans despite being let down by them for most of her life. Perhaps this is why dogs are so incredibly special. They only see the best in us, always, no matter the circumstances. Love leads them.



She's safe with Val now, and that's more than enough.