Cola is a four-year-old pup who’s already been through more twists than many dogs do in a lifetime—but she still carries her hope lightly, even after heartbreak.
Born in India and rescued during the COVID-19 pandemic, she lost both of her back legs before she even left the streets.
But that didn’t stop her. She was given a second chance when she crossed the ocean to the U.S. and found refuge at Twenty Paws Rescue in the tri-state area.
When Cola first arrived in the U.S. in March 2023, she was shy and fearful—understandably so, given everything she had endured.
But with patient foster caregivers, she slowly learned there was more to life than fighting to survive.
She adapted. She ran on three legs and her custom 3D wheelchair helped too.
She climbed stairs, she played, she laughed—even when everything around her was new and uncertain.
She embodied resilience in every shaky step.
Her story captured hearts in the rescue community—and beyond.
Royal Canin, the pet food company, stepped in to help by pledging a year’s supply of dog food to anyone who would adopt Cola, hoping to make the decision easier for prospective adopters.
And soon, she was adopted. It seemed like a perfect match.
Cola with a loving family, her quirks accepted, her limitations understood. For a while, she had her forever home.
But joy sometimes comes with hidden challenges.
Eight months into her adoptive life, it became clear there were complications.
Cola lived with other pets—three dogs and two cats—and despite everyone’s best intentions, the fit wasn’t right.
Personality clashes, stress, maybe simply too much energy in the mix.
Her adopters made a painful, difficult decision: because she wasn’t thriving the way she deserved, they arranged for Cola to return to adoption, back into the care of the rescue she came from.
It was a return filled with heartbreak—not just for Cola but for the people who love her.
Being adopted had been her dream coming true, but returning to shelter life, even temporarily, is hard.
Still, Cola’s spirit didn’t break.
The rescue emphasized that compatibility isn’t failure—it can just mean making the hard call so the dog can grow in the right setting.
Now, Cola is staying with her previous adoptive family while the rescue works to find better fit.
The goal is clear: a calmer home, perhaps one with fewer animals, more quiet, more patience, and people who understand what a specially-abled dog needs.
She has unique needs—she wears diapers to manage incontinence, uses special harnesses—and someone adopting her will need to embrace all that with love.
Even amid disappointment, Cola’s story has resonated. It reminds people that rescue isn’t always a straight line.
Sometimes it’s loops, sometimes setbacks—but the love and community around Cola have never wavered.
She has supporters online cheering for her, helping share her story, holding out hope that her forever home will be one where she truly flourishes.
Because Cola, despite everything, still believes in kindness.
She still believes someone will get her needs, will give her space to heal, and will celebrate her not just for what she lacks—but for all she already is: brave, sweet, and resilient.
