Meet Solo, a stray who had roamed the streets of Los Angeles his entire life.
At around 11 years old, Solo became too frail and ill to keep up with the other dogs, forcing him to stay on a woman’s porch while waiting for help.
When the woman discovered the elderly dog alone on her porch, she named him Solovino, a Spanish word meaning “he arrived alone,” reflecting his solitary existence.
After several days, with Solo still on her doorstep, the woman contacted Rocket Dog Rescue. The rescue center arranged for him to be flown to San Francisco for adoption.
Solo was quickly placed in a foster home, where he lived for the next 1.5 years. Although he was adopted several times, he was always returned.
No one could understand why this lovable dog wouldn’t settle down until Carol Messina saw his photo online.
The Dodo quoted Messina, Solo’s new mother, saying, “The moment I saw his face on their website, I felt an immediate connection.” Being a big “Star Wars” fan (I even have a cat named Solo), I recognized the name Solovino and thought, ‘His name is Solo!’ It turned out his foster dad had been calling him that. I felt it was meant to be. When I met him and saw how sad he was, I knew he was destined to stay with me forever, no matter what.”
When Solo first arrived at his new forever home, he was very scared. Given his life on the streets, it was no surprise that he was cautious around people.
According to Messina, Solo spent months with his tail tucked between his legs. He would flinch at any attempt to pet him and showed little reaction to dogs, people, and cats. Messina soon realized that his hearing and dental condition were worse than his foster parents had initially understood.
Given Solo’s advanced age and poor health, neither the rescue organization nor his foster parents were aware of the extent of his severe tooth decay or his near-total deafness.
His inability to hear people coming made him very fearful of their presence and touch. Additionally, the pain from his teeth prevented him from showing enthusiasm for anything. However, once his dental issues were treated, Solo underwent a remarkable transformation.
Solo now delights in running around, playing, and making new dog friends. It seems he’s come to accept this as his new reality, and as a result, he appears much happier.
According to Messina, neighbors often comment that Solo seems like a completely different dog. He hadn’t smiled or even panted for months, but now he joyfully rolls around and sprints across the grass numerous times each day.
Messina expressed, “I’m very proud of how far he’s come. His progress has inspired me to adopt other senior dogs in need of hospice care, as it’s been one of the most fulfilling things I’ve ever done.”
