Top 10 Happy Tails of 2023: Meet Luna

As 2023 comes to a close, we're taking a look back at all of the lives that we’ve saved thanks to your support. While there are really more than 950 stories we could tell, we've chosen 10 dogs to highlight that include long stays, medical cases, seniors and a newborn puppy. Thank you for making each of these stories possible, and for being part of another amazing year of lifesaving in 2024!

Jessica promised her best friend Michelle that she would adopt from Muddy Paws when the time was right, and five years later, she was able to honor it.

Michelle had been very ill her whole life with various medical conditions. When Michelle’s kidney began to fail, Jessica jumped at the chance to offer hers. Michelle said no but instead asked Jessica to adopt her foster dog Chestnut. Unfortunately, Jessica had her own resident dog and couldn’t commit to adopting another, but she did promise Michelle that she would not only adopt from Muddy Paws Rescue but that she would adopt a bully breed, just like Chestnut. Michelle passed away five years ago, but Jessica never forgot her promise.

“I love to spread positivity on my pup and her breed and how adoption is such a beautiful fulfilling thing to do.” - Jessica, on Luna.

Enter: Orzo, now named Luna (the answer to every solution is pasta, of course) who was part of Mama Lil’s litter. When they were born in March, it had been a year since Jessica’s “soul dog” had passed away who had loved pasta just as much as she and her Italian fiance do. It seemed like a classic case of fate.

Today, Luna lives a spoiled and loved life alongside Jessica. She cries when she doesn’t get enough attention and she doesn’t understand that showering is a personal and private affair.

Together they live a life with no personal space. She gets along with Jessica’s 10-year-old nephew and loves everyone. Jessica is currently moving buildings because her landlord has breed restrictions against Luna, but in always in the life-saving mindset, Jessica is not deterred.

“I can’t be without my pup. I’ve had [Luna] since I became a civilian… I love to spread positivity [about] my pup and her breed, and how adoption is such a beautiful and fulfilling thing to do. I chose her, so I’m moving.”

Thank you Jessica, Luna and especially Michelle for proving that love has no time limit, promises can always be kept, and that rescue comes in many shapes and sizes.