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Zack Keithy, our author, is a certified veterinarian technician (UC Blue Ash) for over 6 years (contact him here). The articles written here are based on his expertise and experience, combined with a review by our expert vet reviewers including Dr M. Tarantino. Learn more about us here.
A small dog named Joon was found inside a cardboard box on a Queens curb on April 11, 2026, matted to the point of being barely recognizable. She was taken in as part of an NYPD investigation that ultimately ended without an arrest, then brought to the ASPCA Animal Hospital.
Dr. Alison Liu, the forensic veterinarian who examined her, said the 3-year-old Maltese mix was underweight and fearful, with inflammation on her hind end from prolonged contact with urine and feces. “She had no injuries, but she was severely matted, with a soiled coat,” Liu said.
Staff sedated Joon so they could safely groom her and treat her skin, then started her on a gradual refeeding plan. She was transferred to the ASPCA Recovery & Rehabilitation Center in Pawling, New York, where the goal shifted from physical healing to rebuilding her trust.
Care and enrichment technician Kelly Lewis said Joon arrived “shut down and traumatized,” initially needing to be carried outside. Staff kept her environment calm and predictable, giving her a larger space with a crate to retreat to, along with treats and consistent handling.
Over time, Lewis noticed Joon beginning to ease in. “She would get the zoomies and loved sniffing the grass,” Lewis said, and the dog eventually began running to greet her, “spinning in circles, excited to see me.”
Christina C., a Queens resident grieving the loss of her 10-year-old dog Benji, came across Joon’s profile on the ASPCA website and applied to adopt her. Lewis said Joon showed Christina the same positive, contented behaviors she’d shown staff during her recovery.
“She bolted toward me,” Christina said. “The staff told me she wasn’t usually like that.” Joon now lives with Christina’s family alongside two other dogs, Sugar and Rocky, and spends her days with Christina’s mother and in the backyard. “Adopting her is the best decision I’ve ever made,” Christina said.
My thoughts:
The detail that stands out is how deliberately slow the recovery process was. Staff didn’t rush Joon toward trusting people again; they built an environment around her pace, down to small choices like leaving her collar and harness on during the day so she wouldn’t have to be handled repeatedly.
It’s also worth noting the timing on Christina’s side of this story. She was actively grieving her own dog when she found Joon’s profile, and the fact that Joon reportedly ran to her in a way staff said was unusual suggests something clicked for both of them in that moment, not just a successful match on paper.
Source: The Cool Down, reporting by Vivian Tran, based on information from the ASPCA
