Rio: She Rarely Goes Back

For the first two weeks after we brought Rio home, she stayed inside her bed and wouldn't come out. Her back legs were scarred—raised lines crisscrossing her skin, old wounds that had healed roughly. We placed food and water at the entrance; she would poke her head out to eat, then retreat back inside.

Every time we opened or closed the bedroom door, it would squeak, and she would tense up, staring at the door. We suspected the sound reminded her of something bad. She still tensed at first, but her reaction gradually eased.

Now she spends her days lying in the hallway, watching us go about our business. The scars on her legs have faded but are still there. The door stays open, but she rarely goes back inside.

With every piece you choose, it plants a $2 seed of hope for a rescued life.