A Life Almost Ended Before It Began
When veterinary technician Kel Izumine first held a palm-sized pit bull puppy in her hands, she couldn’t believe that anyone would choose to throw away such a fragile little life. The puppy, weighing just five ounces, had been brought in by a breeder who had already decided her fate.
The newborn had suffered a serious front leg injury, and rather than considering treatment, the breeder requested that the tiny pup be euthanized. To them, she was “defective.” To Izumine, she was precious.
“She was so small and so innocent,” Izumine later shared. “I just couldn’t understand how anyone could look at her and think she didn’t deserve a chance.”
It was in that moment that Izumine, founder and director of Rock And Roll Rescue Hospice House (RARR), made a life-changing decision. She asked the breeder to surrender the puppy to her care instead. To her relief, they agreed. And with that, the little dog’s story was about to take a very different turn.
The Fight for Survival
The puppy, later named MJ, required emergency surgery almost immediately. Her injury was so severe that amputation was the only way to save her life. For a creature so young, the odds seemed stacked against her. But MJ wasn’t ordinary. She was a fighter.
At less than two months old, she endured two separate amputation surgeries. Each time, her recovery left everyone in awe. Instead of retreating into fear, MJ responded with joyful, almost theatrical defiance.
“Since literally day one, she has been the most dramatic, vocal, loud personality I’ve ever seen in my life,” Izumine said with a smile. “She didn’t just survive her surgery — she celebrated it.”
Her caregivers would laugh at how she would “yell” from her kennel, making her presence known to everyone in the clinic. That fiery little spirit made her impossible not to love.
From Foster Favorite to Forever Family
As MJ grew stronger, her world began to open up. She was introduced to short foster stays, giving her the chance to experience life outside of the clinic. These weekend “field trips” quickly became the highlight of everyone’s week.
“It was hilarious,” Izumine recalled. “People at work would literally fight over who got to take her home for the weekend. She was just that much fun.”
Her leash-training sessions with Izumine showed another side of her resilience. She took to it quickly, bounding along happily on just three legs, proving over and over that disability didn’t define her.
It wasn’t long before word spread that MJ was ready for adoption. The little dog who was once discarded had blossomed into a spunky, confident pup full of love to give. And, as fate would have it, her forever home was already waiting.
“One of my best friends adopted her,” Izumine said. “It couldn’t have been a more perfect match.”
On adoption day, MJ — now renamed Nebula — wagged her tail so hard it looked like she might lift off the ground. Izumine swears it was as if Nebula knew this was her forever family.
A Short Life, But a Lasting Legacy
For two beautiful years, Nebula lived as every dog deserves to: cherished, adored, and surrounded by family. Her mom, Dr. Drea Dillon, gave her a life filled with love, adventure, and comfort.
Nebula remained the same bold, vocal, larger-than-life pup she had always been, her three legs never slowing her down. She became a symbol of resilience — a living reminder that life with differences can still be full of joy.
But in 2023, tragedy struck. Nebula developed a rare spinal cord disease that even the most advanced care couldn’t overcome. At just two years old, she passed away, leaving behind a community devastated by her loss.
Her family and rescuers grieved deeply but also found gratitude in the time they’d been given with her. She had gone from an unwanted newborn facing death to a beloved companion who changed lives.
Izumine shared a heartfelt tribute after Nebula’s passing:
“You are the momma and the family I wish all animals could have. Your sunshine will shine even brighter with the best guardian angel.”
Why Nebula’s Story Matters
Nebula’s journey is not just a touching tale of one puppy’s survival — it is also a powerful message. Too often, animals with disabilities are discarded as “unworthy” when, in truth, they are capable of living full, beautiful lives.
Thanks to one vet tech’s refusal to give up, a little puppy who was almost forgotten got to leave behind a legacy of courage, laughter, and love. Nebula proved that perfection isn’t about how many legs you have, but about the size of your spirit.
Her story continues to inspire rescuers, adopters, and animal lovers everywhere. And though her life was brief, it was nothing short of extraordinary.
