Every dog has its own story to tell. Whether it was born to a pure bred family on a sprawling suburban farm or walked the busy city streets as a stray, each dog comes to know a specific journey in a specific way.

Each year, six to eight million dogs enter the shelter system, with around four million of them never getting the opportunity to leave. We wanted to follow the journey of several shelter dogs to see exactly how the process works and shed some light on how the various shelter and rescue systems work.

Not every dog gets a home, but it is our goal to at least give them a story.

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Meet Eddie, Cupid and Dolly…

Eddie may only have one eye left, but he sure has seen a lot in his year of living. This Cairn Terrier was brought to the Pet adoption Fund (PAF) from the County of Ventura Camarillo Animal Services in Camarillo, CA.

Upon first arriving at PAF, Eddie had to undergo a leg surgery, which kept him inside for the majority of his days. In the recent weeks, however, he has fully recovered from the surgery, was neutered and given a clean bill of health. Eddie is an easy-going, happy terrier who is ready to share his love with a family.

Cupid has had a bit of a rough start to her second chance at life. She came to PAF from the Camarillo shelter in mid January 2011, as she was to be euthanized due to the injuries she sustained after being hit by a car. No one came to claim her, so she was rushed to the vet for immediate care. At just a year old, the Poodle mix has undergone an extreme surgery, placing pins in her leg to keep her fractured bones together. She will remain at the vet for an additional two weeks in order to monitor her progress and keep her from reinjuring her broken bones.

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In her short time with PAF, she has shown signs of behavioral improvement as well. Once shy and timid, Cupid has come out her shell—even playing with other dogs when able. She is still frightened of the occasional loud noise and fast movement, but she is a sweet and gentle soul. Upon her release from the vet, she will be spayed and officially put up for adoption in the hopes of finding the perfect family to care for her.

Dolly’s story is a tragic one that is all too typical these days. Dolly is a Shepherd mix, about 9 months old, who was tossed from an over-pass into the LA River and left to die. A local resident was feeding some stray cats outside when she heard Dolly’s yelps from down below. She immediately alerted a neighbor who was able to pull the dog from the river.

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Dolly was brought to a local city shelter and was treated for various physical injuries and epileptic seizures. Unfortunately, some of Dolly’s injuries were misdiagnosed and she never received the proper medical care for a broken leg and hip. With such extensive medical issues, Dolly was scheduled to be euthanized. But a volunteer from the Pet Adoption Fund (PAF) rescued her from such a fate.

Dolly is now in the care of PAF and is looking for a family to rescue her. She will be receiving several surgeries to help repair her broken limbs and will be in a foster home until she fully recovers.

Stay tuned to our running “Journey of a Shelter Dog” series to learn more about Eddie, Cupid, and Dolly and several other shelter dogs! And Check out Journey of a Shelter Dog Part 1