A Life Transformed: Apricot’s Happy Tail

Andrea Giorgio, intake and rescue manager at Rescue Village, an animal shelter in Geauga County, Ohio, routinely selects dogs and cats from other shelters to be transported to her shelter for adoption.

Last October, Andrea and her team met a dog named Apricot while visiting the ASPCA Cruelty Recovery Center in Columbus.

“I saw this little tan dog dancing on her tippy-toes and said, ‘She has to go back with us,’” Andrea recalled. “I’m told she was frequently used to help socialize puppies, and she’s never met an animal or person she doesn’t like.”

Three-year-old Apricot was one of six dogs selected that day for transport to Rescue Village, two-and-a-half hours north of Columbus. Apricot spent one night there, and that same night, Andrea spoke with her fiancé, Tyler, who agreed they could bring Apricot home the next day to foster her.

From left: Apricot just after arriving at Rescue Village; with Andrea on the way home.

“We had lost two dogs in 18 months to old age, and a year had passed,” Andrea said. “Although we still have one dog, we were ready for another one.”

A Rough Start

On August 28, 2024, the ASPCA helped remove 17 dogs from a property in Lee County, South Carolina, at the request of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED). One of those dogs was Apricot, who was found outdoors, chained to a stake in the ground. She was one of 58 dogs the ASPCA helped remove in 2024 from properties in South Carolina, where animal fighting operations were alleged.

SLED is the recipient of the 2025 ASPCA Henry Bergh Award, bestowed upon an individual or institution exhibiting exceptional leadership, compassion, and commitment to animal welfare, named after the ASPCA’s founder.

Last year, Governor Henry McMaster and the South Carolina Legislature passed H. 3682, establishing a process to recover the costs of caring for seized animals and ensuring that rescued animals get the treatment and protection they need and deserve.

Rescue Village Steps Up

Apricot was one of a handful of dogs from the South Carolina cases who were transferred to ASPCA placement partners, a nationwide network of shelters and rescue groups that match animals rescued from cruelty or disaster situations with loving families.

“Rescue Village has been one of our top partners and has accepted 177 dogs and cats from us since 2021,” said Jasmine Holsinger, senior manager of Placement Partnerships at the ASPCA. “In 2024, they took in 49 dogs and 5 cats from various cases, including Apricot.”

From left: Apricot and Andrea on their first hike; smiling for the camera; and cuddling.

“Forty percent of the dogs we place up for adoption come from partners like the ASPCA; we also do our part locally,” said Andrea. “The majority of our shelter animals were strays and owner surrenders from our community. We have 40 other shelter partners and have transferred in 400 animals in 2024, more than in years past.”

“We see a need for transports,” she added. “The reality is that the problems southern shelters face are nowhere near what we face up north. It’s lifesaving work.”

Adapting To Her New Life

Apricot, now named Gemma, was adopted by Andrea and Tyler on Christmas Eve.

“We have seven cats and an old Chihuahua, Roxy,” said Andrea. “Gemma is good with them and hit it off quickly with our brown tabby, Rambo. They lick each other and play. And Gemma even lets the cats eat with her. Having other animals in the home helped a lot.”

From left: Rambo hit it off with Gemma immediately, as did Roxy.

Gemma was nervous when she first transitioned to life indoors. Her biggest obstacles were new sounds, like a flushing toilet or dishwasher.

“We did a lot of training, desensitization and counterconditioning to help change her emotional response to sounds she perceived as scary,” said Andrea. “It took a lot of work, time, patience and consistency with a trainer to get her to where she is today.

“Meeting Gemma and getting to foster her before committing to adoption is a perk of my job,” she added, “But I consider Gemma the dog who needed me when I also needed her.”

Animal shelters are full, and cats and dogs of all sizes, ages and wonderful personalities need loving homes. When you adopt your next companion, you’re freeing up space and resources that the shelter can use to care for more animals. It’s a ripple: When we help one, we help many — that’s The Rescue Effect. Join The Rescue Effect and adopt today.