She survived nine days alone in an empty house.
A nonprofit fundraiser supporting
Ruff Start Rescue$17,060
raised by 57 people
She survived nine days alone in an empty house.
By the time help arrived, Harlow was a ghost of a puppy, ribs sharp beneath her skin, fur stained from lying in her own waste, toes splayed from being confined for so long she could barely move. She was starving, dehydrated, terrified… and the moment a human reached for her, she wagged her tail.
Her family moved out and left her behind.
No food. No water. No chance of getting out.
At just five to six months old, she weighs barely 18 pounds, nearly half of what a healthy pup her age should weigh. She can’t simply be fed a big meal; her little body needs slow, careful refeeding so her organs won’t shut down. This kind of neglect doesn’t just damage the body; it teaches animals that love is uncertain and people don't stay.
But somehow, Harlow still believes in people.
Now safe in a temporary foster home, she follows her caretaker from room to room, terrified of being left again. She cries when someone walks away, settles into laps every chance she gets, and curls up tightly, seeking comfort and safety. She’s gentle, affectionate, curious, and slowly learning that food comes regularly, toys are safe to play with, and affection doesn’t disappear.
She’s still healing. She needs ongoing medical monitoring, multiple small meals daily, bloodwork, vaccines, and eventually spay surgery once her body stabilizes. But what she needs most is time, stability, and people who won’t leave her behind again.
And that’s where you come in.
Helping Harlow isn’t just about pulling a dog from a shelter, it’s about rebuilding a life that should’ve never been broken.
Your donation today: provides medical care and refeeding support for starved animals, gives abandoned pets safe foster homes instead of shelter kennels, helps neglected animals learn trust, routine, and security, and turns trauma into second chances.
This is what More Than Rescue looks like.
It’s not just saving a life. It’s rewriting a story.
Because rescue doesn’t end when we save them. That’s just where it begins.