Emaciated dog found in Racine County finds forever home

RACINE COUNTY, Wis. (CBS 58) — A happy ending now to a story we first reported in March. Hemlock the dog, who was found badly emaciated on a Racine street by police, has made an incredible recovery and found his forever home.

Hemlock was posing for the camera, five months after he nearly lost his life.

“Your heart went out to that dog,” said Caledonia Police Lt. Gary Larsen.

Life was a struggle for Hemlock until good fortune had him cross paths with an alert Caledonia police officer.

“And the dog ran right up to him and jumped right in the car,” said Lt. Larsen.

Sgt. Mike Trongeau turned Hemlock over to the Wisconsin Humane Society.

“He was skin and bones. His ribs were visible. He had tape worms, he was in really poor health,” said Angela Speed, Vice President of Communications and Marketing, Wisconsin Humane Society.

Nursed back to health and now in the care of his forever family, Hemlock's a success story, but right now, shelters and rescues are needing help.

“We have so many animals in our care and are working so hard to find them homes it's quite unprecedented. A lot of shelters are seeing numbers that are surpassing even pre-pandemic levels,” said Speed.

H.O.P.E. Safehouse, which served Racine for some 40 years, is experiencing the same.

This is Honeybun. She is one of eight available cats here at H.O.P.E. Safehouse.

“I don't know if people are just on vacation,” said Kathy Ginther, President, H.O.P.E. Safehouse.

H.O.P.E. Safehouse has adoptable dogs too, like Betty White and Annie. Kathy Ginther says summertime can be especially tough. Donations are down too so they're holding fundraisers like this one.

“We get some when we send our newsletter out but just on a daily basis, we're not getting much right now,” said Ginther.

The Wisconsin Humane Society says three reasons may account for the uptick in intakes and slowdown in adoptions. A lack of affordable housing that allows for pets, the rising cost of pet care, and a national shortage of veterinarians.

“So, if you're somebody who's been on the fence about adopting or fostering, here is your sign. Shelters need your help right now,” said Speed.

The Wisconsin Humane Society has a special going on right now, something they haven't done in years. The adoption fee for all kittens, puppies and dogs is 50 percent off.

Caledonia police are thrilled to see Hemlock's progress. They say they rarely get to learn what happens to those they help.

“We don't see if our actions made an actual impact on somebody. So, it was really nice to see the pictures,” said Lt. Larsen.

“Hemlock is an awesome dog and he's so happy today and we're so thankful that the Caledonia Police Department found him because he was on the brink of death,” said Speed.