Help True Friends Save Lives

Todd & Copper: A Story of Rescue, Resilience, & Hope

Late one night, during a stretch of dangerously hot weather, two 6 month old puppies were found wandering the streets—severely dehydrated, malnourished, and in desperate need of help.

A compassionate little girl and her mother spotted them and, without hesitation, brought them into their car and took them home.

The next morning, they immediately called us and our local dog warden, Officer Baker. When he arrived, it was clear the pups were in critical condition—one was barely breathing. Of course how luck would have it, it was a Saturday, making veterinary care even harder to access.

While we frantically called every vet. office we could, Officer Baker was on the road, driving from clinic to clinic, urgently seeking help for the fragile pair. Finally, our amazing friends at Southtown Veterinary Hospital answered the call and agreed to take them in right away.

Officer Baker feared he wouldn't make it in time with the one pup. And just as he arrived, things got even worse—the other began having a seizure. Thanks to the quick actions of Dr. Sullivan and his incredible team, both puppies pulled through. They were severely dehydrated and malnourished, but with expert care and much-needed fluids in Southtown’s state-of-the-art hospitalization unit, they slowly started to recover.

It was nothing short of fate that brought them into the hands of such dedicated people.

Now back at True Friends, these two brothers are unrecognizable from the pups we first met. They're active, affectionate, and bursting with love—ready to leave their painful past behind and start a new chapter.

Lovingly named “Todd and Copper” by the little girl who helped save their lives, they’ve become a symbol of what’s possible when a community comes together. Just ask Officer Baker, who recently stopped by for a visit. When he knelt down to greet them, they showered him with slobbery kisses—and we couldn’t help but notice a tear in his eye.

We Need Your Help:

This month alone, our shelter has faced over $5,000 just in medical bills. While we never hesitate to provide life-saving care to often very desperate animals in need, the financial strain is real.... And growing.

Please consider making a donation so we can continue to rescue and care for animals like Todd and Copper.

Every single dollar matters. Every gift makes a difference—not just for the animals we’ve already saved, but for the ones who will come through our doors tomorrow with nowhere else to turn.

It never ceases to amaze us what people can do when they come together.

Todd, Copper, and all of us at True Friends say Thank You!