JULY 21 • 2022 | 11

local resources to rescue and 
find new homes for dogs. 
“NDLB was the first organi-
zation that really jumped out at 
me,
” she said.
The nonprofit has sanctu-
aries in Asia and has nearly 
500 survivors in their care. It 
works on the ground with local 
activists “through emergency 
response, pulling dogs directly 
from slaughterhouses, dog meat 
trucks, wet markets and traf-
fickers,
” NDLB states.
“Our mission extends beyond 
borders worldwide, advocating 
for the creation and enforce-
ment of animal welfare laws, 
and raising awareness for a 
cruelty-free, sustainable world 

in which no animal is violated, 
exploited, tortured or slaugh-
tered for commercial goods or 
profit.
”
As Ellias learned more about 
the nonprofit’s platform, she 
knew this was the place she 
would find her next dog. 
She scrolled through the site, 
looking at all the pictures and 
videos of the dogs available for 

adoption. 
Then this big fluffy red and 
white colored dog named 
Ichabod caught her eye.
 “I saw Ichabod surrounded 
by all these other dogs, and he 
was playing so nicely. Then I 
saw him interact with the peo-
ple and everybody seemed to 
love him!”
Ellias called up the organiza-
tion’s adoption coordinator to 
inquire more about some of the 
dogs available and found herself 
asking about Ichabod. 
Ellias laughed as she recalled 
seeing a video of the 90-pound 
dog taking a volunteer’s notepad 
and tearing it up because he 
wasn’t getting the attention that 

he wanted. 
“For some reason, I thought 
that was hilarious,
” she said. 
Ichabod was rescued in East 
Asia along with about 100 other 
dogs from the back of a truck 
that was on its way to a slaugh-
terhouse. 
Once rescued, the dogs 
stayed in the care of one of the 
NDLB sanctuaries in Asia. 
The coordinator explained to 
Ellias how difficult it was to find 
a forever home for Ichabod, not 
only because of his large size 
and the fact that he sheds. But, 
he also has a disability. 
Ichabod suffers from dis-
placed patellas, meaning his 

continued on page 12

Ellias shares Ichabod’s story with 
some children at Friendship Circle.

JERRY ZOLYNSKY

Ichabod interacts with a fifth-grade 
class at Anderson Elementary.

Ellias and her “six-pack” of 
dogs.

“HE INSTANTLY 
COMPLETED 
OUR SIX PACK.”

— GAYLE ELLIAS

