The white German shepherd mix was chained in the mud. She had no way to escape as rain poured down around her in the cold.

“It was one of those rare times in Los Angeles, and it had been pouring rain for days, We got a panicked call from someone who had gone to a nursery just before closing, and then they saw the most miserable dog.”

Somehow, Jampol found out that the dog named Kenya had belonged to someone who passed away. She was then “inherited” by some people who didn’t care about leaving her chained up in a dirty, muddy yard at a local nursery where plants and shrubs are sold.

The original rescuer brought Kenya over to Westside on January 8. “You could tell she had given up,” Jampol said. “She was shut down and quiet.”

Kenya in her new homeWESTSIDE GERMAN SHEPHERD RESCUE OF LOS ANGELES

Jampol said that she expected a dog with a lot of medical issues. One of Kenya’s eyes was shut tight, and Jampol had no idea if it was injured. But she knew her rescue would do whatever it could for the dog who came from such horrible conditions.

Kenya first received a much-needed bath and then had a visit with the vet.

Kenya loving her bedWESTSIDE GERMAN SHEPHERD RESCUE OF LOS ANGELES

“I haven’t seen such a transformation from a dog looking so dejected to such a happy dog,” Jampol said.

Kenya is about a year old. She immediately became a happy dog after some TLC and some love. “I always talk about the resilience of dogs,” Jampol said. “You knew she was miserable, but you could see her resilience. Once she had a bath you could tell by her face she was happy and she was ready to go. She put it behind her and she was ready for her new life.”

WESTSIDE GERMAN SHEPHERD RESCUE OF LOS ANGELES

From the start Kenya had a great, easy personality. She was adopted just a couple weeks later on January 24 by a couple who adore her. And Kenya loves her new bed.

Kenya and her new familyWESTSIDE GERMAN SHEPHERD RESCUE OF LOS ANGELES

“Kenya transformed before our eyes … feeling life was worth living again,” Jampol said. “You can see how her face changed, you knew exactly how she was feeling. Finally Kenya’s luck changed, and wonderful people who knew her story came and offered her a wonderful new life.”