When most people take a job abroad, they return with souvenirs or stories of adventure.
But when Kali Palmer left her marine biology job in Turks and Caicos in 2023, she came home with something far greater—a sick street dog named Peach and an unbelievable rescue story.
Palmer first met Peach on Grand Turk. The little dog was shy, unwell, and clearly longing for companionship.
Before long, Peach began trusting Palmer enough to sleep inside at night.
With no dog beds available on the island, Palmer bought a patio cushion so her new friend had somewhere soft to rest.
But Peach didn’t come alone. Soon, she showed up with another street dog, Buddy, and later with a litter of puppies.
Palmer suddenly found herself caring for an entire family of strays.
When her job ended, she returned to the U.S. but knew she couldn’t leave Peach behind.
That’s when things took a heartbreaking turn.
A local rescue informed Palmer that Peach had Canine Transmissible Venereal Tumor (TVT), a type of cancer that spreads between dogs.
Because of the diagnosis, Peach wasn’t permitted to travel to the U.S. The rescue insisted euthanasia was the only option.
Palmer refused to accept that. She began fundraising to cover the costs of Peach’s cancer treatment and boarding, along with care for Buddy.
In total, she needed about $10,000. For months, she scraped funds together bit by bit, terrified her efforts wouldn’t be enough.
Peach endured chemotherapy, heartworm treatment, and quarantine. Against all odds, she pulled through.
Finally, in August 2023—six long months after Palmer first met her—Peach arrived safely in Massachusetts.
The wait was worth it. Palmer says Peach is now thriving, full of love, and more than grateful for her second chance.
In fact, Peach has developed a sweet nightly ritual: at 9 p.m., she pouts until someone tucks her into bed and wraps her in a blanket.
Palmer shared Peach’s journey on TikTok (@kaliiiann), and the story quickly went viral.
With over 1.1 million views, 209,800 likes, and thousands of comments, people around the world celebrated Peach’s survival.
Many praised Palmer for not only saving Peach, but also helping Buddy and the puppies.
“Wait—you saved mom, dad, and puppies? A whole family? You deserve infinite happiness,” one person wrote.
For Palmer, the mission was simple: give a dog who was written off as hopeless a chance to live.
Today Peach is proof of what happens when someone refuses to give up.
She’s joined Palmer’s other rescues, a German shepherd mix named Sammy and a cat named Bug, and has blossomed into the heart of the household.
Palmer hopes Peach’s story inspires others not to overlook adult dogs in shelters.
Puppies may get adopted faster, but older dogs like Peach and Buddy often arrive housebroken, socialized, and ready to fit right in.
“She’s the best dog, and I can tell how grateful she is,” Palmer said.
“Every day I see how happy she is, and I know I’d do it all again in a heartbeat.”
