According to the words of Natalie Olivieri, an experienced rescuer of dogs, Harper had undergone severe abuse and was extremely terrified when found. Harper’s discovery took place in the vast Redland area of Florida, which is commonly known as “The Redlands.” Furever Bully Love Rescue, a rescue organization located in Orlando, where Olivieri serves as Vice President, is where Harper was discovered. Olivieri explained that this location is frequently used as a spot to abandon dogs without considering their welfare, leaving them to fend for themselves.
The Redland Rock Pit Abandoned Dog Project is a non-profit organization that works towards feeding the stray dogs in The Redlands daily. Jessie Pena, the Vice President of the group, revealed that they utilize around 350 pounds of kibble to feed roughly 100 dogs. However, there are still numerous dogs that require aid, and the organization cannot cater to all of them.
Pena stated that there are a lot of dogs in our vicinity, but we can only cover a small area due to the large size of Redland Island. Last February, Furever Bully Love Rescue teamed up with Redland Rock Pit to raise money for dog food and rescue some dogs living in the area. Olivieri, along with three fellow volunteers from Furever Bully Love Rescue, went to The Redlands to meet with the other organization’s volunteers.
Olivieri had an experience worth remembering. He shared about the time they reached a hidden spot that was impossible to locate without help. The Redland Rock Pit team arranged tables for food, and as they served, some dogs strolled in. That’s when they met Harper, a hound mix who had been living in the field for around five months. The volunteers had seen her on their previous visits to The Redlands.
Olivieri recounted a heart-wrenching incident where Harper, a scared and scarred dog, arrived at the rescue site accompanied by five other dogs. Harper was so terrified that she fell to the ground upon arrival. Olivieri suspected that Harper had been mistreated and neglected due to her visible scars and evident fear of humans. Not wanting to leave her behind, the rescuers managed to put a leash around Harper’s neck, but she refused to move when they tried to take her back to their truck. Olivieri insisted that they had to rescue Harper, and eventually, they did. Back in Orlando, Harper underwent medical treatment for anemia, worms, and a tooth infection. Unfortunately, her fear problems persisted, and it took her almost three days to stand up. She clung to anyone who picked her up, as if they were her only source of comfort and safety.
Jennifer Adorno, who is the president of Furever Bully Love Rescue, shared that she recently encountered a dog that clung to her tightly. It is unclear whether this behavior stems from comfort or fear of falling due to the trauma these dogs have experienced. Fortunately, Harper, one of the rescued dogs from Furever Bully Love Rescue, has been placed in foster care with Cheryl Kessler. Since then, Harper has shown significant positive changes in her behavior. Kessler reports that Harper now happily runs around outside like any other dog, which is a joy to watch. In approximately five months, Harper and other homeless dogs will become available for adoption through the Redland Rock Pit Abandoned Dog Project website. If you are interested in adopting Harper or other rescue dogs, please reach out to Furever Bully Love Rescue.
