Axel has stepped into a brighter, happier chapter of his life, but there’s still one thing missing: a family to call his own.

For more than a year, Axel has been in the care of Ollie’s Angels Animal Rescue, a foster-based nonprofit located in Long Island, New York. He arrived there in December 2023, following what the rescue’s founder, Melissa Bielawski, describes as a journey of “unbelievable resilience and heartbreaking hardship.”

Before Ollie’s stepped in, Axel lived a lonely life as a stray in South Carolina. His story took a tragic turn when he was caught in a trap. In a desperate attempt to survive, Axel chewed through part of his own foot to free himself. Severely injured and in critical condition, he was brought to a high-intake shelter in South Carolina—one known for euthanizing animals quickly due to overcrowding. His condition was considered so grave that he was placed on the immediate euthanasia list.

Just before his time ran out, the shelter reached out to Ollie’s Angels to see if they could help. When Bielawski and her team learned about Axel’s case, they were deeply moved. “When the shelter reached out to us, we saw the sweetness in his eyes and knew he didn’t deserve to die,” she recalls. “Even though we understood the medical costs would be overwhelming, Axel had been brave enough to save himself from that trap. We felt we had to be just as brave and give him the chance he deserved.”

When Axel first arrived in New York, very little was known about his past. What was clear, however, was that he had endured unimaginable neglect. His ears were crudely cropped, his body emaciated, and he tested positive for heartworm—a potentially fatal condition if untreated. Bielawski believes he likely spent months scavenging for scraps of food just to stay alive, which eventually led to the horrific trap injury and his arrival at the high-kill facility.

Despite his painful past, Axel showed nothing but warmth and affection from the moment he set paw inside Ollie’s Angels. “From day one, he wanted snuggles and kisses. Even though his leg hurt, he happily leaned into anyone willing to show him love,” Bielawski says. His resilience stunned the team; instead of bitterness, Axel carried hope.

Ollie’s immediately launched Axel’s medical care. First came the urgent heartworm treatment, followed by surgery to amputate part of his injured leg that left him in constant pain. Just as he began to heal, another setback struck: he tore the ACL in his only remaining back leg, likely from overcompensating for the missing limb. Once again, Axel faced surgery—this time a complicated ACL repair—followed by extensive physical therapy, including hydrotherapy to strengthen his muscles.

Through every stage of treatment, Axel remained patient, trusting, and brave. “He never stopped showing us gratitude for being rescued,” Bielawski says. Slowly but surely, he transformed from a frail, sickly dog into a confident, energetic companion. With the help of a donated wheelchair, Axel now navigates the world with ease, rediscovering the joy of movement and play.

“He truly loves the freedom that comes with mobility,” Bielawski explains. “Beyond that, Axel is emotionally calm, gentle, and deeply affectionate. He has this nurturing side—especially toward small puppies—caring for them as if they were his own. That tells you everything about his spirit.”

Despite his remarkable progress and loving personality, Axel is still waiting for a permanent home. More than a year has passed since he began his recovery, and not a single adoption application has come through.

“Some people who follow our rescue may assume he’s been passed over because of failed adoptions, but that’s not the case,” Bielawski clarifies. “The heartbreaking truth is he hasn’t received one application.”

Being a tripod dog comes with certain challenges—like an inability to climb full flights of stairs or the need for assistance getting into a car. But Axel doesn’t mind. He’s content to stay on the first floor and happily soaks up the extra affection when someone helps him into a vehicle. To him, those small accommodations are just part of life, and he greets them with patience and good nature.

What Axel needs now is someone strong enough—or creative enough—to help him with these minor hurdles. “His ideal adopter would be a person who can lift him in and out of the car, or perhaps build a step for him,” Bielawski says. “This would allow him to enjoy trips to the vet or his favorite outings, like going to breweries or other low-activity places.”

He also has a few other preferences. Axel sleeps well on his own, so he doesn’t need to share a bed. He is not compatible with cats or larger dogs but would do well as the only pet in the household or alongside smaller canine companions. Above all, Axel simply needs a family willing to love him unconditionally.

The staff at Ollie’s are puzzled as to why such a sweet, resilient, and affectionate dog hasn’t been adopted. To them, Axel embodies everything special about rescue animals. “We want people to understand that rescue dogs are not broken,” Bielawski emphasizes. “They’ve just been through more than most and have been let down by humans. Because of that, they’re eternally grateful when they finally experience love.”

Whoever chooses to adopt Axel will gain more than a pet—they’ll gain a loyal friend with a joyful, loving heart. In return for kindness, Axel offers boundless gratitude, affection, and resilience.

After all he has endured, this long-stay shelter dog deserves nothing less than the very best. For Axel, the final piece of his journey is finding that forever home—a place where his courage and love can finally be matched by the security of family.