Believe it or not, there really are unicorns out there – and one particular unicorn, named Strawberry, happens to be the sweetest creature around. Despite originally being on a mercy killing list at a sanctuary, this unicorn dog was rescued just in time by a local animal rescue organization. Nowadays, Strawberry is living her best life with her loving forever family.
In April of 2022, Laura Labelle, who runs the Labelle Foundation in Los Angeles, was sifting through the numerous emails she receives daily. Among them was a message from a shelter featuring a photo of a pit bull that was set to be euthanized if a new home couldn’t be found. However, there was something special about this dog: a large bump above her left eye made her stand out from the rest.
Labelle shared with Daily Paws that there was just something about the little unicorn dog that spoke to her. She found the pup incredibly adorable and knew that she had to rescue her before someone else did. So, Labelle went to the shelter to pick up the pup and was immediately greeted with the dog’s loving personality.
When Labelle first met the dog, she was brought to her and instantly won her heart with her sweet nature. However, it was clear that the dog was not in good physical condition as it had a strange bump resembling a unicorn horn and its skin was red and scabbed over. Due to this, Labelle decided to name her Strawberry.
According to Labelle, there was a lot of speculation surrounding the bump on Strawberry’s head. Many people were concerned that it could be a tumor. However, after the rescue raised enough money for a CT scan, it was determined that the bump is simply old scar tissue, possibly from a previous injury. Although the cause of the scar is unknown, it poses no harm to Strawberry as it does not cause her any pain. While some suggested removing the bump, surgeons concluded that it would be more harmful than helpful due to its proximity to her brain.
Labelle was overjoyed when she discovered that the “funny scar” on Strawberry’s head wasn’t something fatal, but rather just a unique feature that made her even more endearing. Strawberry had been under Labelle’s care for a while before being placed in a foster home, where she eventually found her forever family. Kristen Kulhman and her family fell in love with Strawberry after seeing her on the Labelle Foundation’s Instagram page and decided to adopt her. Initially shy, Strawberry has since come out of her shell and become a fun-loving and active dog who loves playing fetch and going for walks.
In the opinion of Kulhman, the dog he met is probably the most affectionate, warm and snuggly one ever. Labelle advocates for unique dogs like Strawberry to be given a chance and not overlooked. Appreciating the differences in dogs and seeing them as special instead of unwanted is a wonderful gift, according to Labelle.