In September 2023, Shana Breeden learned about a struggling, nearly hairless dog loitering around a convenience store in Houston, Texas. After finishing her daily work, she headed to the store with hopes of capturing the dog using a humane trap she kept in her car.
“She was approaching people looking for food,” Breeden, an independent rescuer, shared with The Dodo. “She was in distress, and her skin appeared very rough.”
Breeden spent over an hour attempting to capture the elusive dog, but the animal consistently managed to escape. Though she went home that night, Breeden remained dedicated and frequently returned to the area, driving by after work in the hopes of spotting the dog again.
“I can’t bear leaving any dog on the streets, and once I see one, they occupy my thoughts,” Breeden confessed. “They’re impossible to forget.”
Determined to find the dog, later named Amethyst, Breeden posted about her on Facebook, Nextdoor, and other social media platforms. Meanwhile, she and other volunteers canvassed the neighborhood, asking if locals had seen Amethyst. Reports from residents were inconsistent and often led to dead ends, leaving Breeden worried that Amethyst might no longer be alive.
Five months later, in March, Breeden received a promising tip from someone who had seen her post on Nextdoor.
“He said, ‘I know where she sleeps,'” Breeden explained. “I immediately gave him my phone number and asked him to contact me.”
The informant revealed that Amethyst was residing in an abandoned apartment complex in a dangerous area. Yet, without hesitation, Breeden made her way to the address as soon as she had it.
“When I saw her there, I was overwhelmed, thinking, ‘Oh my God, she’s still alive,'” Breeden recalled. “But she looked even worse than before.”
At this point, Amethyst had lost almost all her fur, and her eyes were swollen and infected. Despite her efforts, Breeden was unable to lure Amethyst into a trap.
Seeking further assistance, Breeden called upon professional trappers. Yet once again, Amethyst seemed to have vanished, leaving her untraceable to both Breeden and others.
Amethyst’s disappearance, however, caught the attention of Heather Lowery, another dedicated dog rescuer in Houston, after coming across Breeden’s story on Facebook.
“Her story deeply moved me, and without a second thought, I volunteered to foster her,” Lowery remarked.
By July, Lowery, her fiancé, and several volunteers who connected through Facebook embarked on a renewed search for Amethyst. Fortune was on their side this time.
“In just 15 minutes, we spotted her,” Lowery recounted. “We had initially thought of tranquilizing her for an easier capture.”
Ultimately, the team took a different approach.
“Using a large effort and some luck, we managed to catch her in about five hours,” Lowery mentioned, highlighting the intense dedication involved.
Once Amethyst was well enough to leave the clinic, she was taken in by Lowery.
“For the first month, she kept her tail so tightly tucked under herself that it wasn’t visible – which indicated her fear,” Lowery noted.
As time passed, Amethyst gradually came out of her shell.
“One day, her tail started wagging,” Lowery recalled. “I excitedly called out to my fiancé, ‘Jeffrey, come see, her tail is wagging!’ It was such a delightful sight.”
Amethyst’s fur began to grow back as well, initially appearing as a small, white “mohawk” before gradually turning into orange fur across her body.
“She isn’t completely healed yet,” Lowery admitted. “The vet mentioned it’s possible she may regain all her fur but with some patches – and that’s perfectly fine, we love her just the way she is.”
After avoiding capture for nearly a year, Amethyst now thrives on human affection and shares a special bond with Lowery.
“She’s incredibly sweet,” Lowery expressed. “It’s like you can feel how grateful she is.”
Breeden couldn’t be happier with Amethyst’s transformation.
“Lowery has done an incredible job with her,” Breeden said. “Amethyst looks so different now and has become a part of Lowery’s family along with her dogs. When I visited her a few weeks after her rescue, she looked visibly happier and healthier.”
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