Hi, I’m Magdalena, one of the staff volunteers for Good Tails Rescue.

Millions of people saw West when a heartbreaking video of him went viral. He was hanging helplessly from the back of a pickup truck on California’s 5 Freeway, suspended by his collar as the truck continued driving.

That same day, he was surrendered to an overcrowded Los Angeles shelter. A shelter volunteer recognized him from the viral video and discovered that the collar was wrapped around his neck and it has been deeply embedded into his skin where the skin was starting to heal over the chain, along with additional wounds to his head. While his physical injuries have healed, the emotional trauma remains.

West was rescued by Good Tails Rescue just days before he was scheduled to be euthanized. His foster dad stepped up before he even met West, opening his heart and home to a dog whose past was filled with neglect and trauma.

For the most part, West was doing well. But there were signs that his past had left deep emotional scars. He struggled with significant fear-based aggression and trauma, despite making progress in a loving home.

Today, that trauma surfaced when West bit his foster.

We are incredibly grateful for everything his foster has done. This wasn’t a failure on his part, and it doesn’t mean West is beyond help. It means West needs more than love alone—he needs specialized rehabilitation from professionals experienced in helping severely traumatized dogs.

We’ve secured a spot with Humble Paws, an organization with extensive experience rehabilitating dogs with complex behavioral challenges. West will receive six weeks of board-and-train, where he’ll receive the structure, training, and confidence he needs to safely move toward a permanent home.

Our goal is $10,000, which will cover:

* Several months of professional board-and-train

* Transportation to the training facility

Every dollar will go directly toward giving West the opportunity to heal from the trauma he didn’t choose.

West has already survived more than any dog should ever have to endure. We refuse to let this setback define his future.

If you’ve followed West’s journey from the beginning, we’re asking for your help one more time. Whether you can donate $5, $50, or simply share his story, you’re helping give him the chance to become the dog we know he can be.

Thank you for believing in West, in second chances, and in the power of rehabilitation.