Andrew Alpin, M.Sc.

Cold, hungry, and blind, a skeletal Pit Bull lay curled in the shadow of Mississippi pines, breathing as if each inhale might be her last. Rescuers had been warned to expect an “aggressive” dog. Instead, they found a soul named Halo—so fragile that the mere act of lifting her felt like holding a secret on the brink of breaking. What followed was a rescue powered by quiet courage and relentless kindness, and it changed Halo’s life forever.

The Call No One Forgets: From “Aggressive” to Heartbreaking Reality

The first report mislabeled her as dangerous. When rescuers reached the forest, they discovered Halo—blind, starved, and barely able to stand. The label evaporated the moment they saw her; this wasn’t menace but survival. In the Mississippi rescue community, Stacey Frazier and her husband Mike have become lifelines for dogs like Halo, and they stepped in as they have so many times before. Animalko

Stacey and Mike Coax Halo to Safety

Stacey and Mike gently lured Halo from the trees with food and calm voices, revealing a body that told the truth: skin and bone, exhaustion, and old pain. They named her Halo—a tender hedge against uncertainty, because nobody knew yet if she would make it through the night. Stacey took her home, began treatment, and wrapped her days in steadiness: medication, nourishment, and the kind of attention that teaches a dog the world can be soft again.

The Scars She Carried—and What They Said

Halo’s injuries spoke of cruelty. Stacey later shared that Halo’s ears “were cut with a pair of scissors,” likely used for breeding until she was discarded. One eye was injured; the other effectively blind—vision loss that should have been treated but never was. Under care, Halo’s body began to repair, but the miracle was in the way she started leaning into hands, trusting voices, and sleeping without flinching.

On a Facebook post Stacy wrote: “Her ears were cut with a pair of scissors, and she was most likely used for breeding. One eye is injured and damaged, the other is blind probably from an eye disease that should have been treated.”

A Bridge North: Lucky Dog Refuge and Jessica’s Update

When Halo grew strong enough, she traveled to Lucky Dog Refuge in Stamford, Connecticut—a new chapter written by a team that understood her needs. Jessica explained that vets confirmed Halo’s blindness; she might “see shadows,” yet sometimes “walk right into a telephone pole,” a reminder that love would need to be patient, rooms predictable, and routines gentle. And somewhere in the midst of healing, they discovered Halo’s favorite joy: ice cream. She lit up for every frozen treat, a small celebration of a life finally turning.

The Ending She Earned: A Family—and a Best Friend

Halo didn’t just find adopters; she found family—and something even sweeter. Her new people welcomed Layne, Halo’s best friend from the shelter, so the two could start fresh side by side. After months of pain and uncertainty, Halo’s world is now safe, warm, and predictable: gentle walks, soft beds, and a home that listens for her steps. From a Mississippi forest to a forever home up north, Halo’s story is proof that the right hands, at the right moment, can change everything.