Duke personifies what rescue is all about. When he first arrived at his foster home, he was so thin his ribs and hip bones stuck out. “It broke my heart,” says Angie Kochan, Duke’s foster Mom. “He was my first foster dog and I felt a so much responsibility. I wanted to do everything right.”
Duke was rescued from a backyard in Mexico – and just in time. His family kept him tied to a chain and deliberately stopped feeding him. He became so weak he could hardly stand up. He could not even walk to relieve himself but had to lay in it. His ribs and hip bones stuck out; his ears were severely infected; and his muscles had wasted away from starvation. Yet he clung to life, despite how thin, weak, and sick he was.
By the time Duke was taken from that yard, he was too weak to travel. He spent several weeks in custody in Mexico gaining strength, and arrived in foster care with Angie Kochan on May 4, 2021. “I understand Duke gained 30 pounds before arriving at my house,” says Angie. “He was only 60 pounds when he arrived, so he must have been a skeleton. It makes me cry just thinking about it.”
Under Angie’s care, Duke slowly gained more weight. The infection in his ears cleared up with treatment, and his muscles grew stronger. She loved taking him to the office with her every day, where he became a favorite with her colleagues. She would celebrate each and every pound he gained. “If there’s one thing Duke taught me, it’s about the will to live. I can’ believe he’s still alive.” One morning, Angie stayed in bed longer than usual. Duke got up on the bed (barely made it), crawled up to her, put his chin on her shoulder, and looked at her as if to say: ‘Time to get up Mom, I'm hungry’.
Duke was adopted on June 26 by JoEllen Strong and Ron Frazier, where he continues to get all the love and kindness he deserves. Today, he weighs 81 pounds and wants for nothing. “It's a bittersweet ending for me, but a wonderful life ahead for Duke,” says Angie, who gets updates on Duke from JoEllen. “He’s so gentle and sweet. He loves his walks, takes treats slowly, and loves everyone he meets." She has one big wish for Duke. “I wish for him to have peace, feel loved, and be secure for the rest of his life.”
