stella (pastrami) Updates

3/13/2026

This sweet little emaciated girl is at the vet right now for a checkup. Stella is now up to 17.4 pounds (from 16) and is steadily gaining weight! Her eye ulcer is improving with medication, and her tail is slowly healing as well.

She will continue on her feeding protocol and eye medications, and today she received the vaccines she was able to safely get.

Best of all, Stella is feeling remarkably better. She is beginning to trust, relax, and finally live like a real dog. We will continue to keep you updated on her progress. 

3/6/2026

It’s hard to imagine the kind of life this poor little girl must have endured. Stella is severely emaciated, covered in painful wounds, and is also suffering from corneal ulcers in her eyes.

When she first arrived at VRC, the veterinary team was able to stop the vomiting she had been experiencing. They performed a full abdominal ultrasound and bloodwork, and she was started on antibiotics to treat her infected wounds.

Unfortunately, Stella needed to return to the vet today for additional care. The wound on her hip is serious, but the wound near her hind end was even worse and required debridement and thorough cleaning with a medicated surgical scrub. The area must remain unbandaged so it can properly drain, and she will need to remain on antibiotics while it heals.

Her eyes also require treatment. One eye shows scarring from previous untreated corneal ulcers, and she currently has a new active ulcer, so she has been started on strong medicated eye drops.

Because Stella is so severely underweight, she is being fed small, carefully controlled meals to avoid refeeding syndrome while her body slowly adjusts to proper nutrition again.

She is now resting with her wonderful foster family, who are providing the patience, medical care, and compassion she desperately needs. We are incredibly grateful for them, especially knowing the kind of suffering Stella must have endured before rescue.

3/5/2026

We believe there have been many firsts for little Stella (formerly Pastrami) over the past day. It may have been her first time on a leash, possibly even her first bath, and perhaps the first time she has truly been shown love and kindness by her fosters.

Despite being so emaciated and fragile, Stella is beginning to experience what safety and care feel like. Her foster family is giving her the patience, comfort, and support she needs as she starts this journey toward healing.

Come on, little girl… you can do this. We truly think Stella is starting to feel the love. 

3/4/2026

After arriving in critical condition yesterday from ACCT, Pastrami spent the night at the hospital receiving IV fluids and anti-nausea medication. Thankfully, she has not vomited at all since, which is a huge improvement from when she first arrived.

The vet performed an abdominal ultrasound and bloodwork, and fortunately nothing abnormal was found internally. Pastrami is still severely emaciated, so she will need careful nutritional support following a refeeding protocol with small meals at a time, along with plenty of rest and TLC while her body begins to recover.

Pastrami will be getting a new name soon as she begins her new chapter.

She is very emaciated and covered in multiple wounds, and will need a great deal of care and time to fully heal. Thankfully, we were able to find the perfect foster home, and we are incredibly grateful for them stepping up to help this sweet girl begin her recovery.

Right now she needs all the prayers and support as she works to regain weight, receive proper nutrition, and heal both physically and emotionally from the neglect she has endured.

She has just arrived home from the veterinary hospital and enjoyed a nice warm bath, a small comfort as she starts this journey toward recovery.

3/3/2026

Pastrami is a 4 year old French Bulldog who came into ACCT as a stray on 3/3 in extremely poor condition. Due to the severity of her medical state, she needed confirmed rescue placement by 6 PM that evening.

She arrived severely emaciated with a terrible body condition, vomiting large amounts of foul smelling brown liquid, some of which was also coming out of her nose. She also has ulcerations on her body and may be suffering from aspiration pneumonia. Her condition is extremely serious.

Rather than allow her to be euthanized at the shelter, Delco Dawgs stepped in and pulled Pastrami, transporting her immediately to our veterinarian for emergency evaluation and care.

We do not yet know if she will be strong enough to recover. Our veterinary team will determine whether treatment is possible or if the most humane decision is to let her go peacefully surrounded by people who care. Either way, she will not suffer and will finally know compassion and kindness.