When rescuers first laid eyes on Susanna, it was impossible not to feel the weight of everything she had endured.
The young Rottweiler was curled tightly against a cold metal dumpster, her thin body trembling, her eyes barely open. Every breath looked like a battle she wasn’t sure she could win.
She had been discarded in a well-known dumping area in Florida, a place where unwanted animals are routinely left to fend for themselves with little chance of survival. By the time someone stopped to check on her, Susanna’s spirit had faded so much that she could no longer lift her head.
Yet beneath all that suffering, there was a spark still holding on.
Left With Nothing But Pain
For many years, rescuers in the region have been forced to witness heartbreaking scenes in that desolate stretch of land. Large trucks speed through constantly, stirring dust and danger.
Countless pets have been tossed aside there, and many never make it out alive.
On an early May morning, animal rescuer Isabel Zapata was driving slowly through the site, scanning the ground as she often did, hoping she might be able to save at least one forgotten soul.
That was when she saw a small dark shape pressed against a dumpster. As she stepped closer, the reality of what she was looking at struck her hard.
The young dog was so weak she couldn’t raise her head. Her ribs pressed sharply against her skin, and her coat was crawling with fleas and ticks.
Isabel gently called to her, but there was no movement — not even a tail twitch.
Realizing the urgency, Isabel immediately reached out to Gulfstream Guardian Angels Rottweiler Rescue (GGARR). Board member Laurie Kardon answered, and as soon as she heard the details, there was no hesitation.
They would take Susanna, no matter what condition she was in.
Because she couldn’t walk, rescuers slid a tarp underneath her and carefully lifted her into their truck. It took several people to get her settled.
Her body sagged against the fabric, completely limp, as if every ounce of strength had already drained away. But this time, she was heading toward safety — something she likely hadn’t felt for a very long time.
A Fragile Fight For Survival
The team rushed her to a nearby animal hospital, where veterinarians started fluids immediately. Her dehydration was severe.
Blood tests were ordered, and the medical staff surrounded her with everything she needed to stay alive. At first glance, it appeared she might be paralyzed. Her back legs wouldn’t respond, and her front legs trembled whenever anyone tried to move her.
Those first hours were heavy with uncertainty. The rescue had no idea what had caused her condition. They didn’t know if she had been hit, neglected, confined, abused — or some combination of all those things.
All they knew was that she was young, only three years old, and already fighting for a future she hadn’t been given a fair chance to live.
After several days of stabilizing her, GGARR arranged for her to be transferred to Clint Moore Animal Hospital in Boca Raton.
The veterinary team there began reviewing every test, every X-ray, every note the first hospital had taken. Slowly, they began to understand what had likely happened to Susanna long before she was dumped.
Her spine was intact. None of her bones showed signs of a traumatic accident. But her legs told another story — one of long-term confinement.
Her joints were stiff, her bones malformed, her muscles underdeveloped. The doctors believed she had spent most of her life crammed inside a crate, never given the chance to stand or walk freely.
Based on her condition, she may have been kept only for breeding, used repeatedly, and then thrown away when she was no longer profitable.
The thought crushed everyone who cared for her. She had been denied the simplest joys — stretching, running, playing, even walking. Yet somehow, even after years of neglect and the cruelty of abandonment, she held on.
A Small Sign Of Hope
When Laurie Kardon met Susanna for the first time, something unexpected happened. As Laurie leaned over her, speaking softly, the weak dog lifted her head — just slightly — and touched Laurie’s face with her tongue.
That tiny lick felt like a message, fragile but clear: I’m still here. I want to live.
Laurie felt her heart swell. To her, that moment was a promise that the rescue team would fight for Susanna as hard as Susanna was fighting for herself.
A recovery plan was formed immediately. She would need high-quality food to help her regain weight and strength.
Pain medication would help loosen the stiffness in her legs. Once she was strong enough, she’d begin gentle physical therapy. No one knew how far she would progress, but they were determined to give her every chance.
Within a week of steady care, Susanna’s eyes began to brighten. Her ears perked up when people walked by. She wagged her tail whenever someone spoke to her. Her body was still fragile, but her spirit — that was getting stronger every day.
Then came a milestone no one expected so soon.
The vet team brought her to the rehabilitation pool, supporting her gently as she entered the water. The buoyancy helped her legs, taking pressure off her weak joints.
At first she just stood there, unsure of what to do. But then, with incredible effort, she took a step.
And then another.
Suddenly she was walking through the water — wobbly, slow, but walking. The entire room filled with tears. For a dog who had spent most of her life unable to move freely, those first steps felt like witnessing a miracle.
A Heart Reborn
Once the pool sessions began, Susanna seemed to come alive in ways no one had predicted. She began looking forward to her therapy time, moving with more confidence each visit.
She wagged her tail the moment she saw her veterinary friends. The sad, expressionless dog who had once lain helplessly beside a dumpster had been replaced by a glowing, joyful soul discovering happiness for the first time.
Her eyes, once dim, now sparkled with curiosity. She leaned into everyone who came near, soaking up affection she had probably never received before. Even the smallest kindness — a gentle hand on her head, someone whispering her name — made her whole body light up.
She also began receiving laser therapy to ease her pain and loosen stiff joints. Little by little, she gained enough strength to start interacting with other dogs. Staff members introduced her slowly, unsure at first how she’d react.
But Susanna surprised them. She approached every dog gently, wagging her tail and giving soft sniffs, thrilled just to be near them.
It was as if she had always known how to be loving — she had simply never been given the opportunity.
On sunny days, she rolled in the grass with pure delight, rubbing her back against the warm ground as if making up for years lost to confinement. Witnessing her discover joy after so much hardship became a source of hope for everyone around her.
Laurie Kardon often visited her, admiring the courage and sweetness that radiated from Susanna. She said that watching the dog’s transformation felt like watching a flower open after a long winter.
Day by day, Susanna was becoming who she was meant to be — a strong, affectionate, gentle companion.
Looking Toward A Brighter Tomorrow
More than a month has passed since the morning Isabel Zapata pulled her from the dirt and danger of that Florida dump.
The frightened, limp dog rescued from death has become a lively, social girl who greets everyone with bright eyes and a wagging tail. She is still in recovery, still strengthening her legs, but her progress is remarkable.
The team at Clint Moore Animal Hospital can’t help but smile whenever she’s around.
She has become one of the most beloved dogs in their care — not just for her bravery, but for her softness, her affection, and her incredible ability to forgive.
Laurie hopes the perfect family will find her soon, one that will give her the comfort she has never known. Until that day comes, Susanna continues to be surrounded by love, encouragement, and people who believe in her with their whole hearts.
“She’s a powerful example of the Rottweiler spirit,” Laurie often says. “Strong, loyal, determined — and still full of love despite everything.”
Susanna is living proof that even a dog left to die can bloom again when shown compassion. Her journey is not just a story of survival — it’s a reminder of the extraordinary resilience inside every forgotten animal waiting to be saved. And for Susanna, the life she deserved is finally beginning.