08/23/2026
🌈 Forever One of Ours: Remembering Pretzel
Yesterday, we received one of those messages that breaks your heart while reminding you exactly why we do what we do. 💔🐾
In April of 2013, a little girl named Pretzel was adopted from Those Left Behind Foundation at Pet-A-Palooza at Sunset Park.
Her family reached out to us yesterday to let us know that after 13½ beautiful years together, Pretzel crossed the Rainbow Bridge at 14 years old. 🌈
For those of us in rescue, adoption day is usually where our part of the story ends. We watch them leave in the arms of their new family, hope we chose well, and move on to the next dog who needs us.
But this is what we hope happens after they leave.
Thirteen and a half years of being someone’s little girl.
Thirteen and a half years of birthdays, ordinary days, adventures, snuggles and memories.
Thirteen and a half years of being safe, wanted and deeply loved.
Pretzel’s family told us she gave them many years of happiness and that she will forever be in their hearts. The fact that after all these years they thought to reach back out and share her passing with us means more than they probably realize.
We may have helped Pretzel find her family in 2013, but they gave her the life every rescue dog deserves.
And that is the whole point.
Every adoption photo we post is only the beginning of a story we don’t always get to see. Pretzel got her happily-ever-after—and she got to live it for more than thirteen years. ❤️
To Pretzel’s family: thank you for choosing her. Thank you for loving her for a lifetime. And thank you for letting us be part of her story once again.
Once a TLB dog, always a TLB dog.
Run free, sweet Pretzel. 🌈🐾
You were so very loved, and you will never be forgotten.
