According to Natalie Olivieri, a seasoned dog rescuer, Harper was in a state of extreme fear and had been subjected to terrible abuse. Olivieri found Harper in the sprawling terrain of Redland, Florida, which is also known as “The Redlands”. She serves as the vice-president of Furever Bully Love Rescue, a rescue organization stationed in Orlando, and it was during her work there that she came across Harper. The area where Olivieri discovered Harper is frequently used as a site for abandoning dogs, with little concern for their safety or welfare.
The charitable organization, Redland Rock Pit Abandoned Dog Project, is dedicated to feeding stray dogs in The Redlands. Their Vice President, Jessie Pena, revealed that they provide daily meals for nearly 100 dogs using 350 pounds of kibble. However, the number of needy dogs exceeds their capacity to help.
Pena reports that there are a significant number of dogs in our community, but due to the vast area of Redland Island, our efforts to reach and assist them are limited. In February last year, Furever Bully Love Rescue teamed up with Redland Rock Pit to raise money for dog food and save some of the dogs living in the area. Olivieri and three other volunteers from Furever Bully Love Rescue made the trip to The Redlands to meet with volunteers from the other charitable organization.
Olivieri had a remarkable encounter lately and he shared about it. He vividly recalled arriving at a hidden spot that was impossible to locate without help. The volunteers from Redland Rock Pit situated tables and began serving food, attracting a few dogs that wandered over. This is where they met Harper, a hound mixed breed who had been spotted by the volunteers during their previous visits to The Redlands and was estimated to have been living in the field for around five months.
Olivieri recounted the story of Harper’s rescue, stating that when they found her, she was accompanied by five other dogs and appeared to be terrified of everything around her. Harper had scars on her head and back, suggesting that she had been mistreated in the past. Olivieri knew that they could not leave her there and managed to put a leash around her neck, but Harper refused to move. Eventually, they were able to take Harper and two other dogs to the vet for an examination. Harper was diagnosed with anemia, worms, and a tooth infection, but her fear issues would take much longer to heal. Olivieri noted that Harper did not even stand up for three days and clung to anyone who picked her up as if her life depended on it.
Jennifer Adorno, who holds the position of president at Furever Bully Love Rescue, has recently shared an unusual experience she had with a rescued dog. She mentioned that the dog held onto her tightly, which had never happened to her before. However, it is uncertain whether the behavior stems from a feeling of comfort or fear of falling, given the traumatized state of these dogs. Harper, another rescued canine from Furever Bully Love Rescue, has been placed in foster care with Cheryl Kessler, who has already noticed significant changes in Harper’s attitude towards life. Kessler revealed that Harper now runs around like any other dog, which is a joy to see. In the next five months, Harper will become available for adoption along with other homeless dogs on the Redland Rock Pit Abandoned Dog Project website. For those interested in providing a loving home to Harper or any other rescue dog, please reach out to Furever Bully Love Rescue.