On January 19, 2025, as flurries began in Brooklyn and the temperature was in the low 20s, Olivia P. spotted a very thin, frightened husky searching through garbage. She stayed to help, but recognized that the dog needed medical and behavioral care she could not provide alone. With help from neighbors and ASPCA staff, the dog—whom Olivia had named Snowy—received treatment and, after recovering, found a home with her rescuer. This account follows the ASPCA’s report, published February 11, 2026.
A frightened husky in a Brooklyn winter
Olivia P. noticed Snowy’s protruding ribs and spine, a wound on her arm, dirty coat, and overgrown nails. When Olivia tried to follow her, the dog ran away. Olivia later recalled, “I knew I wasn’t going to leave.”
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A neighbor brought dog treats, and people nearby helped guide Snowy into a fenced garden area. After hours of trying, they slipped a leash over her head and brought her to a neighbor’s apartment for the night. The group planned to take her to a shelter the next morning. As Olivia left, she suggested the name “Snowy.”
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The next morning, Olivia learned that Snowy had been connected with Olivia D’Amico, who lived in the building and worked for the ASPCA. D’Amico contacted a former manager at the ASPCA Adoption Center in New York City. The ASPCA says Snowy was an especially sick case and that neighbors helped bring her to the Manhattan center.
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Snowy was hospitalized on her first day in ASPCA care after vomiting garbage she had eaten. Her veterinarians worried that she might have an obstruction requiring surgery. According to the ASPCA, she recovered without surgery and began a gradual refeeding plan.
The ASPCA describes refeeding syndrome as a potentially fatal condition that can occur when calories are reintroduced too quickly, causing dangerous metabolic changes and fluid shifts. Snowy’s care was managed by veterinary professionals; her case is not individual veterinary guidance.
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From recovery to adoption
D’Amico visited Snowy regularly and sent Olivia updates. After about a week and a half, D’Amico said, Snowy began seeking her attention. “Snowy was truly a shell of a dog when I first met her,” D’Amico said in the ASPCA account. Olivia says that seeing a video of Snowy’s change helped her decide she wanted to adopt her.
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On February 28, 2025, Olivia adopted Snowy. The ASPCA reported that Snowy was healthy and spayed at the time. Olivia first brought her home to a studio apartment, then decided the space was too small; they later moved to a home in Jersey City.
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Snowy’s life with Olivia
In the ASPCA’s later update, Snowy is described as chatty and playful, fond of squeaky toys, and prone to stealing socks and getting the zoomies. She also likes to snuggle with Olivia. The ASPCA account does not establish Snowy’s status after that update.
Olivia had lost a previous dog and spoke about the vulnerability of loving another animal again: “I’ve gotten over the fear of loving another animal because the joy in every single moment I get to spend with her is exponentially worth it.”
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The dates, temperatures, treatment details, and later-life account here are reported by the ASPCA in its February 11, 2026 feature, “Rescued from Freezing Temperatures, Snowy Warms Her Finder’s Heart.” The organization’s story does not name Snowy’s veterinarian or include her medical records.
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