When a woman in the Bronx stepped into the hallway of her apartment building one evening, she didn’t expect to find anyone there — let alone a trembling, skeletal puppy staring up at her with desperate eyes.
The little brown-and-white pup, later named Baby Gina, was so thin her ribs jutted sharply through her skin. Weak and disoriented, she could barely stand. But even then, her tail gave the smallest wag — a fragile sign of hope.
The woman immediately called Second Chance Rescue, and within hours, rescuers rushed to the scene. They gently wrapped Baby Gina in a blanket and carried her to safety, vowing that her suffering would finally end.
At the hospital, it became clear just how close to death she’d been. Her tiny body was dangerously underweight, her stomach empty, her energy nearly gone. Still, she fought to lift her head when anyone came near, searching every face for kindness.
“There are so many unknowns,” Second Chance Rescue wrote in an update. “We are just praying she can pull through. She is just a baby.”
As her story spread across social media, thousands of people sent messages of love and encouragement. Donations poured in from across the country to help cover her care. Baby Gina — who once had no one — suddenly had an entire community rooting for her.
“Gina is so grateful to be surrounded by so much love,” rescuers wrote.
Now, weeks later, Baby Gina is still healing at Second Chance Rescue’s care center. She’s slowly gaining weight, wagging her tail more each day, and showing glimpses of the joyful puppy she was always meant to be.
“She is happy, she is loved, and she is recovering,” the rescue shared. “She even has a bunch of new sweaters to keep her warm while she gains weight.”
Baby Gina still has a journey ahead of her — but she’s no longer facing it alone. One day soon, she’ll leave the hospital behind and walk into a forever home filled with the love she’s always deserved.
Because sometimes, all it takes is one person opening their door to change a life forever.
To help other animals like Baby Gina, make a donation to Second Chance Rescue.
