When Betsy R. saw Van Gogh come through the door in his foster mom’s arms, she knew he would be coming home with her. The roughly 4-year-old pup had recently had both eyes removed due to a slew of medical issues, but his chill personality and calm demeanor captured Betsy’s heart immediately.

“During the meet-and-greet he was very quiet and chill and allowed me to pet him the whole time his foster mom was telling me about him,” explained Betsy. “Everything she told me sounded like a great fit for me. I wasn’t looking for a young dog – I’m a senior – but his personality is very laid back and, with his blindness, he is okay chilling on the sofa and going for slow walks outside.”

That day, Betsy took Van Gogh to what would likely be his first loving home of his own.

The Full Picture

Van Gogh was one of nearly 200 dogs and cats rescued in September 2023 from an extremely crowded mobile home in Clarence, Louisiana. The animals were found living in filthy and dangerous conditions, with an overwhelming odor of ammonia. Many of the dogs were living among their own feces and urine with soiled coats, and some were found suffering from untreated medical issues that required immediate veterinary attention.

Pictured above: Dozens of dogs like Van Gogh were found crowded into small rooms on the property during the rescue.

Many of the animals were taken to local shelters to receive care. Those suffering from medical or behavioral issues, including Van Gogh, were relocated to the ASPCA Cruelty Recovery Center (CRC) in Columbus, Ohio, for specialized treatment and continued care until they could find loving homes.

A Complicated Middle Ground

When Van Gogh arrived at the CRC, his initial intake exam found him to be underweight with muscle wasting along his back, he had moderate dental disease and was infested with fleas. They also noticed his unique eyes and thought that he was likely blind.

“When examining him, I noticed that he has asteroid hyalosis of both eyes,” Dr. Maggie Joel, Veterinarian at the CRC, explained. “This is a degenerative condition that causes fat deposits to float in the fluid of the eyes and presents as floating white sparkles swirling around in the globe – it’s also known as Starry Night effect, which is why we lovingly named him Van Gogh.”

Along with the degenerative condition, Dr. Joel found that Van Gogh had cataracts in both eyes, and he was confirmed blind.

“Cataracts are a disease that typically affects older dogs, and with only being estimated to be around 4 years old, we knew his condition was more complicated,” said Dr. Joel.

Van Gogh was taken to an ophthalmologist for a consultation where it was determined that he likely had congenital cataracts of both eyes, a ruptured corneal ulcer on the left eye, as well as retinal detachment of the right eye. Given the severity of his conditions, there were no surgical options to repair his vision.

“Due to concerns of potential long-term pain and swelling with the eyes, we decided the best treatment would be to remove them,” Dr. Joel told us. “The following week he underwent surgery to remove both eyes, as well as a neuter and dental.”

Dr. Joel also treated Van Gogh’s fleas and fed him an appropriate diet for weight gain.

Van Gogh’s recovery was intensive, with rest, an e-collar and careful monitoring from his foster, Nicole Smith, a buyer on our procurement team who works at the CRC.

He quickly adapted to life without his eyes and began to thrive in Nicole’s home. But just one week after surgery, Nicole noticed Van Gogh’s appetite had decreased and he was vomiting, despite his recovery going so well, so she brought him back to Dr. Joel.

“After trying some initial treatment, it became clear something else was going on, and we decided to send him to an internal medicine specialist,” explained Dr. Joel. “It was then we discovered he had developed an esophageal stricture; a condition where the esophagus narrows too tightly, not allowing food to descend into the stomach properly, and causes chronic vomiting and regurgitation. This is a rare but potential complication of anesthesia. If untreated, he would continue to decline and wouldn’t be able to get the nutrients he needed. We decided to proceed with a ballooning of the esophagus, which stretches the stricture and allows food to continue to pass through normally.”

After this procedure, Nicole continued to provide Van Gogh with intensive care with a liquid to soft diet, multiple medications and close monitoring. Over the course of a few weeks, he gained weight and eventually recovered fully.

“Van Gogh’s story really highlights the impact that medical fosters can have on animals, providing them with the specialized care and attention they need to recover from illnesses or injuries,” said Dr. Joel. “Many shelter environments can be stressful and overwhelming, which may hinder a dog's healing process. Our shelter is capable of providing many things to these rescue animals, but being in a home with monitoring and round-the-clock care can really make a huge impact on their recovery. This not only enhances the dogs' chances of a successful recovery but also prepares them for adoption, helping them find loving homes where they can thrive. I am so very grateful for not only Van Gogh’s fosters, but the many fosters that make such a huge impact on the care of special animals every day.”

After all that Van Gogh had been through, everyone that had a hand in his journey was elated when he was finally adopted by Betsy.

“Knowing that this special little dog has made it into a loving home brings me so much joy,” said Dr. Joel. “Van Gogh came from a very difficult background and saw many challenges while in our care; I’m so glad we were able to support him through these medical battles and show him the love that he deserved. After all he’s been through, it is such a relief to see him thriving in a home and leaving his challenges in the past. It is cases like his that make this work so important and makes me grateful for the impact I get to have on dog’s lives.”

“It feels amazing knowing that Van Gogh is in a loving home,” adds Nicole. “That is the thing about fostering, you may not get to keep them all, but you can help so many.”

Blending Together

When Van Gogh first arrived at his new home, he was very quiet, timid, cautious and scared of being outside. This is not uncommon for dogs from overcrowding situations and in addition, Van Gogh’s blindness likely contributed to extra caution when adjusting to a new space.

“It took him almost the whole day to come out of his cage,” remembered Betsy. “But I knew I needed to give him a lot of space for him to learn to trust me. Fortunately, I had some time off work to get to know him and help him settle into his new place.”

With a lot of patience and deliberately going to the same spot for bathroom breaks, Van Gogh became comfortable outside and now enjoys being off leash and sunning himself in the small yard in the front of Betsy’s apartment.

Having had dogs in the past that love blankets, Betsy started offering them to Van Gogh. It took him about three days but now he practically lives under them. Nicole also noted how much Van Gogh loved blankets during their time together, telling us that wherever they went, the blankets came too!

Betsy also purchased a car seat for Van Gogh to come along on adventures. Though he was hesitant at first, he jumps up from under his blankets when he hears Betsy grab the car keys.

“We have gone on a few long car trips to visit family and friends, and he has done wonderfully,” Betsy said. “My little driving buddy and I are on a great adventure!”

When Betsy adopted Van Gogh, she became part of what we call The Rescue Effect. When you adopt an animal from a shelter, you’re not just changing that animal’s life, you’re also helping to create much-needed space for another animal to get lifesaving care and find a family of their very own. The Rescue Effect creates a ripple effect across the country’s shelter system, affecting the lives of countless vulnerable animals.

You can join The Rescue Effect and help create more new beginnings for animals Van Gogh by adopting or fostering a dog or cat of your own! Visit aspca.org/therescueeffect to learn more about how you can participate today.

The CRC is in urgent need of foster caregivers and adopters for rescued animals like Van Gogh. If you’re able and you live in the Columbus area, please sign up to foster today or check out our adoptable animals