Stevie was rescued from a backyard in South Carolina, where he had spent what was likely all eight years of his life chained up. Along with another dog named Wonder, he was taken in by the Lancaster Region SPCA, which collaborates with various rescues, including Diamonds in the Ruff in New York. As soon as Diamonds in the Ruff learned about Stevie, they knew they had to bring him into their care.
When Stevie first arrived at Diamonds in the Ruff, it was clear he had endured a lot. In addition to being blind, he was also dealing with fleas, worms, and fur loss. Further examinations revealed an old corn cob lodged in his intestines, requiring surgery for removal. Along with his medical challenges, his foster family had to be patient as he adjusted to living indoors with a loving home.
“He slept most of the way [home], but every so often, he would start growling and barking in his crate,” Erin Boyd, Stevie’s foster mom, told The Dodo. “We understood he was just trying to protect himself. When we got home, we brought the crate inside, but he refused to come out. We were extra cautious, knowing he couldn’t see and that he didn’t know us yet.”
As Stevie began to heal both physically and emotionally, he slowly came out of his shell. Before long, he had transformed into the biggest lovebug. His foster family cherished watching him experience so many firsts—especially getting his very own bed for the first time.
Knowing Stevie had likely never had a soft bed before, his foster family made sure to give him one. The moment he felt the plush fabric under his paws, he was overjoyed and immediately started jumping with excitement.
