A severely emaciated and mistreated dog was recently discovered abandoned in a shed where Hannah Peterson believes she was “left for dead.” Hannah is one of our incredible staff members at Genesee County Animal Control (GCAC).

Despite the dire condition of Toffee, the horribly neglected Pit Bull mix, the staff at GCAC never gave up hope — and neither did Toffee. She has started on her path to recovery thanks to the caring humans she encountered at GCAC.

Hannah has done an incredible job advocating for animals, raising awareness of animal abuse and neglect by telling the stories of dogs like Toffee.

From Newsweek:

Peterson shared a tear-jerking video on TikTok (@hannahreneepeterson) showing how sorrowful Toffee looked in the shelter, as her eyes carried “so much heartache, loneliness, and uncertainty.”

The clip has captured plenty of attention online, leading to more than 18,000 views and over 7,000 likes on TikTok in just a matter of days.

While it is difficult to see these heartbreaking videos, Peterson said that it is vital for people to see them to address the animal welfare crisis that is ongoing. She added that she thinks of her videos as a call to action to show people the severity of the abuse and neglect that is happening across the country.

Toffee is now in a foster home recuperating and getting prepared to find her forever home.

This is the second time the work of GCAC has been featured in Newsweek this year.

Support the Work of GCAC

If you would like to support the incredible work of the GCAC in our community, you can donate to Shelter Animal Donations (SAD), a non-profit organization dedicated to serving animals at GCAC in need of supplies, training or costs to fund medical emergencies.

Click here to donate to SAD.