Just before Thanksgiving 2023, the ASPCA relocated more than 100 shelter dogs from Orange County Animal Care during a local state of emergency resulting from the North Hangar Fire in Tustin, California. One of those dogs was Niles, a Great Dane mix transported to our Cruelty Recovery Center (CRC) in Columbus, Ohio.

In December, Christy Sheehan, an ASPCA volunteer responder, met Niles, still a puppy, while caring for dogs at the CRC.

“When we took Niles outside, he ran around like a baby giraffe,” says Christy, a program project manager consultant from Austin, Texas. “I immediately fell in love with him.”

Christy and her husband Josh routinely foster shelter animals. After applying for a job in animal welfare, Christy learned about opportunities to deploy with the ASPCA National Field Response team and upped her commitment to get more involved.

“The deployment experience made me even more passionate,” Christy says. “Especially when I saw the dedication of the other responders.”

Christy met Niles while caring for him at the ASPCA Cruelty Recovery Center.

In the following days and weeks, Placement and Foster teams at the CRC and the ASPCA Centralized Placement team arranged for most of the Orange County dogs to go to shelter partners around the country to be put up for adoption. A dozen dogs remained at the CRC to be made available for adoption, including Niles.

That’s when Christy decided to adopt him.

“I thought he’d be perfect for our family,” she says.

Niles’ Journey Continues

The CRC, where Niles spent eight weeks, is dedicated to the recovery of some of the country’s most vulnerable animals, including those displaced by emergency situations like Niles’. Now, the lanky, 77-pound Niles needed a ride to the Lone Star State. Courtney Leigh, a professional responder who worked with Niles during her rotation after Christy’s departure, agreed to drive him from Ohio to Texas without hesitation.

Susan, left, and Courtney, drove Niles from Ohio to Texas.

“I hate flying, and if there’s an opportunity to do a transport, I’ll take it,” says Courtney, who lives near Austin, works with a local Great Dane rescue group and has four Great Danes herself. “You don’t have to ask me twice to drive a Great Dane.”

Courtney and another volunteer responder, Susan Fineske, packed Niles into an SUV on January 24 for the 1,200-mile journey, stopping in Memphis overnight and continuing to Texas the next day.

“Whenever there are animals in need, dedicated responders like Christy, Courtney and Susan are ready and willing to answer that call,” says Sam Kirby, director of Planning and Response for the ASPCA National Field Response team. “In this case, Courtney and Susan went even further, driving Niles to Texas.”

“Niles was an angel the entire trip,” says Courtney. “We had the best time, and his happy disposition made it even more enjoyable. He was such a bright spot on our journey. We stopped at Petsmart for toys and Buccee’s for photos. It’s almost like you could hear him say, ‘This is the best trip ever, girls!’”

Left: Courtney and Niles at a Buccee’s in Texas; right, with Susan outside their vehicle.

After 19 hours of driving, Courtney, Susan and Niles arrived in Austin where they were greeted by Christy, Josh and their rescued Dachshund mix, Chip.

Breakthroughs and New Bonds

Christy and Josh’s pets — including a pair of cats named Otto and Reggie whom they bottle-fed as kittens — are former fosters. Used to other animals, they (mostly) welcomed Niles — who is now called Leroy.

“I knew Great Danes have good temperaments, and Josh always wanted one,” Christy says.

Niles, now Leroy, with Josh, Christy and Chip.

Although Leroy was underweight and suffered from Demodex mange — skin irritation and inflammation caused by an overpopulation of microscopic mites — he improved with treatment begun at the CRC and later with medicated baths and fish oil supplements provided by Christy and Josh.

And, to the couple’s delight, Leroy and Chip bonded immediately. High-energy dogs, they love chasing each other and are regulars at a local doggie daycare ranch. And Leroy — a “goober,” Christy lovingly calls him — will visit the beach for the first time this summer.

Leroy and Chip bonded quickly.

One constant since Leroy’s arrival in Texas is his love of food. Leroy is now 95 pounds to Chip’s 25, but the 70 pound weight difference doesn’t faze either.

“Leroy copies everything Chip does,” says Christy. “I had a good feeling about them; it was immediate, like brotherhood. They love each other and are inseparable.”

“We’re grateful to Christy and Josh for giving Leroy the incredible home he deserves,” says Rachel Helmick, senior manager of Foster and Placement at the CRC. “Our work isn’t easy, but stories like this make it worth it.”

If you’d like to get involved and help dogs like Leroy, check out our volunteer opportunities