Sometimes, animal rescuers have a gut instinct about a dog they are meant to help. 

That was the case with a stray dog who was placed on the Urgent timestamped list at Animal Care and Control in Philadelphia (AKA ACCT Philly), less than a mile off of Route 1. Ultimately, this particular dog would be rescued by  Dog Town Rescue of Montgomery County, PA.

Dog Town Rescue is an organization that operates an adoption center out of donated space from a dog daycare and boarding facility.

They focus on a playgroup-style environment that will keep their fosters socialized and entertained while awaiting their forever homes. For this reason, at the time of this particular rescue story, they often physically went to ACCT Philly to meet dogs and select the ones who were a proper fit for a dog playgroup.

There was not enough time for that with Indigo. 

Indigo was found as a stray by a good Samaritan in terrible condition– she was skin and bones, covered in cuts and scrapes, had open wounds on her ears, and was not bearing any weight on her hind leg. She sat at ACCT Philly on an expired timestamp, and her story could have ended at any moment from then on. 

Dog Town Rescue decided she was theirs to save based on photos and emails alone. 

Thank goodness they decided that because the world needs Indigo’s pure goodness in it.

At the time of her rescue, Indig had numerous scars across her body. Her visible ribs revealed a dog who hadn’t seen a consistent meal in a long time. Her damaged and missing teeth suggested a rocky past. Both then and now Indigo has a way about her that tugs (read: YANKS) at the heartstrings of any person she meets. The first thing you’ll notice is her smile, which some might initially mistake as a “snarl” of sorts, but they quickly come to realize the submissive nature behind it. All she wants is to make new friends and be loved. Love is something she likely missed out on in her earlier years, so she has made it her personal mission to soak up as much of it in her “new” life as possible. 

Dog Town Rescue spent a lot of time, money, and dedication nursing Indigo back to health. It was later discovered that there would be no “perfect” healthwise for her. She would be a dog who needed ongoing care, but her demeanor and present soul were worth every future vet bill. 

Indigo spent roughly nine months with Dog Town Rescue. She became a mascot of sorts, greeting and making an impact on every shopper, potential adopter, and volunteer who came through the doors. Coincidentally, she would find her forever home with a volunteer there. Indigo submissive-toothy-smiled her way into the heart of her new mom. Her new family had a perfect dog at home, and while they weren’t initially looking to add another, they soon learned that their current dog was chronically ill and had very little time remaining. 

This is a classic case of the universe’s timing working in mysterious ways. 

Indigo didn’t replace her fur sister before her (Greta). She was placed into the lives of her new family to help them heal and to ensure them that there was life after losing great love. To this day, she comforts them through the ups and downs of life.

Dog Town Rescue knew that Indigo deserved the perfect adopter. The perfect situation. The perfect family that would appreciate her, her history, and her second chance. 

She found all of that and more. Gut instincts, especially in animal rescue, are not to be ignored. They often lead us to the stories that fuel our desire to help more animals, and the hunch that Dog Town Rescue had about Indigo proves that. 

Want to help Dog Town Rescue save more animals in need like Indigo? You can donate to their cause here, and check out their website to browse their adoptable dogs. Follow them on Facebook here! 

You can also support the animals at ACCT Philly here.