A pony named Dolly spent months being led through the streets of South Los Angeles without proper veterinary care, and now she is fighting full pneumonia while doctors weigh whether she will need a blood transfusion. She has regained some energy in her step since being pulled off the streets, but she is not yet fully recovered.
Dolly first came to public attention after social media videos showed her being pulled along by a man on a bicycle in South LA, according to CBS News Los Angeles. Those clips caught the attention of Joey Tuccio, an animal rescue advocate, who began searching for the pony himself, canvassing South LA neighborhood businesses for leads about her whereabouts.
A Neighbor's Tip Leads to Dolly
While Tuccio was searching, a rescue called him. Later, a neighbor who spotted Dolly contacted Tuccio, and he spoke with her owner, according to CBS News Los Angeles.
After Dolly was taken in, she was examined and diagnosed with full pneumonia, CBS News Los Angeles reported. The station said she had been without proper veterinary care while walking the streets for months.
Recovery Underway, but Not Complete
Dolly is not at an animal hospital receiving breathing treatments, and a blood transfusion is being considered. She has regained some energy in her step, but remains unwell, according to CBS News Los Angeles.
According to the station, Dolly will stay at the sanctuary for now and could return to her owners if her recovery goes well. The rescue has also received calls from people interested in adopting her.
A Call for Intervention
Tuccio, who describes himself on X as an animal rescuer and activist with Starts With One Today, said people should intervene when they see a pony being exploited or dragged around streets. His message echoes the mission of established equine rescue groups working in the region, including Saffyre Sanctuary, a Los Angeles-based horse rescue and rehabilitation program that cares for horses that have been abandoned, abused, or neglected, according to Saffyre Sanctuary, which says it was incorporated in June 2009 as a nonprofit corporation.
Reporting suspected neglect
LA Animal Services says its Animal Control Officers investigate complaints from the public. Reports of suspected mistreatment outside the agency’s jurisdiction may be referred to another animal-care agency, according to LA Animal Services.
Other organizations doing similar work include Laughing Pony Rescue, which describes itself as a nonprofit that has saved more than 1,500 horses, donkeys, and farm animals since 2010. Dolly's case now sits alongside those efforts as she continues her recovery.
