Jill Henke wasn’t expecting to start a rescue mission when she pulled up to a community center in Washington Park, Illinois.
She was just there to drop off cat food — but as she stepped out of her car, a pair of distant, soulful eyes caught her attention.
From across a field, a shy dog watched her carefully.
Curious, Henke asked a center volunteer if he knew the pup. He did — she was a stray who'd been visiting now and then, nibbling on the cat food he left out. No one knew exactly where she came from, but she clearly had nowhere to go.
Henke’s heart went out to the dog, later named Bon Bon. But when she reached out to local animal control and partner rescues, every facility was full.
For weeks, Bon Bon remained a ghost in the background, surviving on scraps and staying out of reach.
Then, a call came in.
Gateway Pet Guardians received a tip about a dog living inside an abandoned house nearby. Rescuers checked the place once with no luck.
But on their second visit, they stepped inside—and there she was. Bon Bon, curled up on a tattered couch, eyes wide but tired, as if she’d been waiting.
“She didn’t want to come at first,” said Alisha Vianello, executive director of Gateway Pet Guardians. “She was scared and deep in survival mode.”
After some patient coaxing, Bon Bon finally allowed the rescuers to carry her to safety.
And almost immediately, something shifted.
“Once she got to the shelter and realized she was safe, she opened up,” Vianello said. “She became a total sweetheart.”
Now living with a foster family, Bon Bon is thriving. She's gaining weight, rediscovering playfulness, and learning how to be a beloved dog again.
“She came in the other day for a visit,” Vianello said. “Her transformation was so incredible, I didn’t even recognize her.”
Bon Bon is now on the lookout for a forever family — one that will offer endless belly rubs and accept her grateful kisses in return.
To meet Bon Bon, visit her adoption page. To support more rescues like hers, you can donate to Gateway Pet Guardians.
