When Everglades Angels brought Kali to her new home in Port St. Lucie, the rescued dog found a new lease on life.
“She walked in our home, walked right up to my 1-year-old grandson [Gavin] and rolled on her back for belly rubs,” Lani Evans told TCPalm. “She was comfortable, she was loved, and she was home — forever!”
Kali’s life was not always so good. Someone had put her in a metal cage and left her to die in the Everglades sometime before Lani and Darrell Evans adopted her in September 2018.
“She chewed her way out of the cage and — being the loyal companion that she is — she waited by that cage for her owner to come back for her,” Lani said. “Our understanding is that a passerby saw her and was occasionally tossing out food to her.”
Someone eventually called Everglades Angels, a South Florida nonprofit that rescues, treats and finds forever homes for abandoned dogs. Kali was underweight and traumatized, but the nonprofit restored her to good health, Lani said.
“Kali has never had any medical issues. She is perfectly healthy,” Lani said. “The first couple of days with us, she definitely had a little anxiety. No doubt, she was likely unsure if her new surroundings would be permanent. Within a couple of days, she realized this was her new home.”
The Evanses gave Kali a DNA test that revealed she was 50% border collie; 37.5% Great Pyrenees and 12.5% German shepherd. Everglades Angels estimated she was 4 years old, but Lani thinks she was younger because she still has the energy of a puppy eight years later.
“Kali has never met a stranger. She loves everyone; all dogs and all children,” Lani said. “She protects us daily from squirrels and the Amazon man!”
To the rescue: Epidemic of dogs dumped in Everglades hits home for Treasure Coast woman
Forever home: Lulu, a dog abandoned in the Everglades, now lives on the Treasure Coast
Two years after their dog died, the Evanses began thinking and talking about adopting a dog. When Darrell saw Kali on the Everglades Angels website, their minds were made up.
“He quickly filled out an application and made an appointment to meet her and we immediately knew she should come home with us,” Lani said. “All she asks for — in return for her love and loyalty — are daily belly rubs.”
Though the Evanses constantly love on Kali, Lani said it pales in comparison to the love Kali gives them.
“It’s horrible that these very innocent animals have to suffer because of horrible decisions made by a human,” Lani said. “I’m so thankful for rescues like Everglades Angels that are working hard to get these animals off the streets and into loving homes. We feel very blessed to have been given the opportunity to make Kali part of our family.”
How to adopt an Everglades dog, donate or volunteer to a dog rescue
Cheryl Smith is TCPalm’s enterprise editor. Contact her at cheryl.smith@tcpalm.com.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Florida Everglades Angels rescue dog left to die in metal cage