Solana

Solana means sunshine, and this little gal really needed some sunshine in her life. Solana is a sweet, ten-year-old Chihuahua who was used for breeding for years. She was seized as part of a cruelty/neglect case. And once she arrived at the shelter, she found the smallest corner of her kennel to hide in, trying to make herself even smaller. 

Knowing she needed a lot of medical care and rehabilitation, the shelter worked to find her a rescue transfer. But, Solana was heartworm positive, had rotten teeth, was weak in her hind end and needed to be spayed. Scared and old and sick – all a recipe for a project dog that might be too much for most organizations. She was passed up for rescue by four groups before Carolina Poodle Rescue (CPR) found her.

When CPR staff went to rescue Solana, she flipped over on her back, exposing her belly. She let them pet her and cradle their hands around her to scoop her out of the crate. Once held, Solana buried her little face into her rescuer’s neck...safe at last. 

Thanks to a Grey Muzzle grant, CPR knew they could give Solana all the time, love and care she needed to get back to total health and happiness. And they were determined to make it so. But it didn’t take Solana very long to find the perfect forever family.

Long-time CPR volunteers Bill and Lisa have a soft spot for the under-socialized, the seniors, and chihuahuas. In late 2018, they lost their beloved chihuahua to brain cancer. She was a puppy mill survivor. She had a gentle, trusting heart despite her terrible start to life. She had a lot in common with Solana. They didn’t know it yet, but the dog their hearts were missing was in South Carolina recovering from spay surgery.

Regardless of her former life, Solana is willing to try new experiences like car rides, walks in the park and play dates. She has a puppy brother and is learning what playing means. Solana is building muscle strength strolling in her backyard and is now strong enough to make it up five stairs by herself. She’s responding well to heartworm treatment and only barks if she’s left in a room alone. After years of loneliness, Solana knows she is home.