For close to a decade, a dog named Rockland roamed the halls of an apartment building — a loyal presence without a family to call his own.
He wasn’t anyone’s dog, yet tenants in the building took turns feeding him and keeping him safe. Still, Rockland spent most of his life surviving on scraps of kindness, without the love and comfort of a real home.
When residents could no longer care for him, they reached out to Animal Haven. At last, Rockland had shelter — but no one waiting on the other side of that kennel door. And time was running out.
Not only was Rockland a senior, but a recent cancer diagnosis made his future uncertain. Tedi Sarah, a longtime Animal Haven volunteer, knew the odds were against him — but she refused to let him fade away unseen.
“As soon as I met him and heard his story, I knew I had to help,” Sarah told The Dodo. “He couldn’t die in a shelter. Not without ever knowing what it feels like to be truly loved.”
Sarah shared Rockland’s story online around Christmas, a holiday he was once again spending alone. Her heartfelt video asked people to see past his age and illness — and into his heart.
“We all adore him at the shelter,” Sarah wrote. “And we just want him to find his forever family while he still has time.”
The response was overwhelming. Applications poured in from people moved by Rockland’s quiet perseverance.
But one stood out: Bessy Gatto, an experienced rescuer with a deep love for senior and special-needs dogs.
“She has such a huge heart,” Sarah said. “She’d seen me post about him before, and when she saw the Christmas video, she reached out immediately.”
Bessy welcomed Rockland into her home — and into a life he’d only ever dreamed of.
Now, Rockland has dog siblings, two human siblings who adore him, and all the warmth and love he was missing for so long.
“He’s the gentlest big brother,” Sarah said. “He’ll never be alone again.”
To help more dogs like Rockland, consider donating to Animal Haven, or follow Tedi Sarah’s rescue work on Instagram.
