Meet Sasha.

On a sweltering summer afternoon, Michelle was walking home from work when she noticed a commotion near an abandoned warehouse. The faint sound of barking led her around back, where she discovered a German shepherd mix tied to a rusty chain. Her water bowl was tipped over, and the cracked ground beneath him radiated heat.

As she approached, the dog struggled to stand—her paws raw from pacing on the hot concrete—but her tail wagged weakly. Michelle called animal control, then sat beside her in the shade, speaking softly until help arrived.

At the shelter, the dog, now named Sasha, was diagnosed with dehydration, cracked paw pads, and a severe flea infestation. X-rays revealed she had been living with a dislocated hip for months, likely from being hit by a vehicle. Her vet bills for surgery, treatment, and weeks of physical therapy—costs generously covered by Man’s Best Friend, whose support made her recovery possible.

Once healed, Man’s Best Friend assisted in facilitating in Sasha’s adoption by Erica, a school librarian. “She comes to the library with me during reading hour,” she says. “The kids adore her, and she seems to know when they’re nervous—she’ll just curl up beside them until they start reading. She’s not just my dog—she’s part of the community now.”