Abandoned ‘Pink Dalmatian’ and Her Brother Now Awaiting Adoption at Shelter

No, your eyes are not deceiving you. She actually is pink.

This is Asia and her companion Artie. Both were left at the “night drop” outside the Animal Friends of the Valleys adoption shelter in California. Asia’s coloring and spots make her look like a pink dalmatian, but her and Artie are actually boxers. Both dogs were suffering from demodex mange, a treatable skin condition. Usually, there is some sort of note left at the anonymous drop off location at Animal Friends, but for Asia and Artie, that was not the case. Still, for workers there, it wasn’t about why they were dropped off — it was about having the ability to help them.

“I felt so badly for Artie and Asia when I first saw them,” Jennifer Glover, a registered veterinary technician for the shelter and first to meet the dogs that day, told People. “But I was encouraged by the fact that we would be able to start helping them.”

Understandably, the dogs were “depressed” upon their arrival, but Glover said it didn’t take long for them to understand they were now in good, helping hands.

“Within just one day of having someone care for them here, they were so much happier and more outgoing,” said Glover.

Veterinarians at Animal Friends of the Valleys treated Asia and Artie with medicated shampoo and pain treatments for the mange, a common infestation caused by mites. Demodex mange can be painful and cause the animal’s hair to fall out.

Now, Asia and Artie have moved again to Last Chance at Life (LCAL) adoption center, where caretakers there say the dogs’ spirits are up and numerous families have already inquired about adopting them together.

“I was lucky enough to get to pick them up and take them on their Freedom Ride to LCAL,” Niccola Gentile, a volunteer, who loves participating in the freedom rides, told People. “Asia came right out of the kennel to leave with me, while Artie was still nervous and took some coaxing to get a leash on him. But once out, he was so excited! Asia just wanted to be with him and would focus all her energy on getting next to him; unless of course she was trying to give you kisses.”

LCAL says interest in adopting the dogs is already very high.

President and Founder of LCAL, Lisa Hamilton, told People a family that had recently lost a boxer to cancer and adopted from the shelter in the past was coming to visit the dogs. Asia, who looks like a pink dalmatian, Artie are both listed as available on the shelter’s adoption page.