BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Sarah Duran is a real estate agent in Buffalo and recently rescued a dog that was living in horrible conditions in the basement of a home she was asked to list for sale.
Duran is now fostering the three-year-old English bulldog that she has decided to name Maxine.
She shared with 7 News reporter Yoselin Person that it broke her heart seeing Maxine in a dingy basement.
“She’s such a sweetheart. It’s just a shame,” she expressed. “I’m just glad that I found her."
Duran said she found Maxine a few days ago in a home that was occupied.
“I called, went to the house, and looked through the whole house. I got to the basement and there was Maxine," said Duran.
According to Duran, the conditions Maxine was living in were horrible.
“There was no water, she was pooping down there. There was like a ripped-up dog bed,” she said. “So I asked a few questions and I didn't want to put them on defensive mode. So then I said, are you going to take her to the vet what are you going to do? By the way, the woman just had a baby so I said you know, I think you have your hands full here so if you want I can take her, I work with a rescue.”
Duran is a foster for cats at “West Side Cat Rescue” — a non-profit that rescues cats. Maxine is the first dog rescue for the organization.
“So we’re raising money to cover her spay and eye medications and probably eye surgery to get her eyelids tucked back in,” Duran said.
Now Maxine is in a safe place where she can be loved.
“She is 10 to 15 pounds underweight so we’re going to have to fatten her up,” she said. “I’m feeding her pretty frequently.”
Duran wants to make it clear why the police were not involved here.
“I wouldn't want someone to be afraid to surrender an animal in need out of fear that they’re going to have the police after them," Duran said. “Just like the cats we’re going to do everything that we can to make sure that she’s fully healthy."
Click here if you would like to donate to help with the cost of Maxine’s care.
