Loving Special-Needs Dogs: One Woman’s Mission to Help Them Thrive
Key takeaways:
Nicole delaRosa adopts special-needs dogs, including those who need hospice care.
Her work at a shelter inspired her to take in dogs with medical and behavioral challenges.
She shares tips for managing costs and explains why it’s worth the effort.
GoodRx for Pets: Here’s how to save on pet medications with GoodRx.
When Nicole delaRosa first met Foxy in 2024, a tiny cairn terrier-Chihuahua mix with a heart three times its normal size, she knew the dog’s future was uncertain.
Nicole understood that Foxy’s condition — reverse patent ductus arteriosus — would make her difficult to adopt. The rare heart defect caused Foxy’s heart to grow abnormally large. This caused fluid in the dog’s lungs and poor circulation in her hind legs.
Foxy can’t take long walks or get too excited because her back legs might collapse.
Nicole delaRosa is pictured in front of a red-and-blue door, holding a small tan dog in her arms. A sign on the door reads, “With a focus on those with special needs. streettails.com”
Despite the challenges, Nicole welcomed Foxy into her suburban home in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, knowing her time might be short.
“She’s our special-needs dog,” Nicole says. “She won’t live a long life, but we can try to keep her quality of life as good as possible while she’s with us.”
Why she focuses on dogs with special needs
Nicole, 51, is the board president at Street Tails Animal Rescue in Philadelphia. The shelter helps dogs with medical and behavioral challenges. Her work there inspired her to adopt dogs like Foxy, including those needing end-of-life care.
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“They might not live a super-long life, but for their time they’re here, I just want to give them the best possible life that they can have,” she says.
“It’s not for everybody because it is hard,” Nicole admits. “Even the dogs that we bring into the rescue, not all of them make it. But the dogs that have special needs, they still have so much love to give to their owners.”
Creating a haven for pets who need a second chance
Nicole and her husband already had two adopted dogs when Foxy joined their family:
Scout, their 12-year-old mountain cur, was adopted in 2013. He has kidney disease and takes enalapril twice a day to manage high blood pressure.
Marshall, a German shepherd, was recovering from canine influenza when they adopted him in 2023. At the time, their pit bull had just died from a brain tumor.
Their experience caring for pets with medical needs prepared Nicole for Foxy’s challenges. Foxy takes sildenafil daily, better known as generic Viagra, for her heart condition. “In dogs, it works to reduce the inflammation and fluid in the lungs,” Nicole says.
To keep Foxy active, Nicole uses a soft-structured baby carrier to take her on hikes. “We like to hike and run and that kind of thing,” Nicole says.
Nicole and her husband don’t know how much time they have with Foxy, but they focus on making it good. “We don’t know if we’re going to have her for a few months or for a few years,” she says. “The cardiologist said she’s only ever seen one dog with her condition make it to [age] 10.”
Tips for managing costs
The idea of taking a dog to a cardiologist might seem overwhelming and scream dollar signs for some people. But Nicole has found ways to make it work. These are her tips for making it manageable.
1. Look into grant programs for vet bills
“Some animal hospitals will have grants for people who can’t afford the vet bills,” Nicole says. Check with a veterinary hospital to see if it offers financial aid for low-income families.
2. Use care credit cards for pet expenses
Many veterinary hospitals offer care credit cards specifically for pet care expenses. “If you pay it off within a year, there’s no interest,” Nicole says.
3. Consider getting pet insurance
Pet insurance is another option, but it may not cover all conditions. “Some people swear by it, but for me personally, I’ve never found it helpful,” Nicole says.
Helping the hardest-to-adopt dogs
At Street Tails, the team specializes in taking in dogs with medical or behavioral issues. “We know ahead of time if we’re pulling a dog that might need eye surgery or might be a cancer hospice case,” Nicole says.
Behavioral challenges such as separation anxiety and resource guarding are also common. They address these issues with treatment such as trazodone for anxiety or professional behavioral training.
But finding adoptive homes for dogs with behavioral challenges is often harder than for those with medical conditions, Nicole says. “Even a paralyzed dog that needs to wear diapers seems to get adopted before a dog with behavioral issues,” she says.
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To help these dogs, the rescue relies heavily on social media to reach potential adopters nationwide. One success story involved a family from Boston who adopted a dog with severe separation anxiety after seeing him online.
Nicole also uses her personal social media to share stories. Recently, she posted about Tofu, a French bulldog with digestive issues and an anal prolapse who found a loving home. But another French bulldog with mobility challenges is still waiting for the right family.
“He has trouble walking, and we don’t [really know] what’s wrong with him yet,” Nicole says. “He’s the cutest thing.”
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Why it’s worth the effort
Nicole didn’t realize how many special-needs dogs needed homes until she started volunteering at a rescue. Now she’s a trusted caregiver and advocate for these often-overlooked pets.
“I wish more people would be open to adopting dogs with special needs,” she says. “It is rewarding for the work that goes along with it. The rewards pay out tenfold.”
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