How a loving home took Oliver off the streets and into therapy work
It’s true—adorable Oliver the pooch was rescued from Mexico’s streets, where he’d been cared for by a group of young orphans. By September 2020, Oliver—affectionately known as “Pawfessor Poopy”—was brought to FurPetVo’s care. His journey wasn’t smooth at first, but after being welcomed into a loving home by FurPetVo member Missy and her husband, Oliver thrived. Today, he works as a certified therapy dog—touching hearts and changing lives. Here’s his story, in Missy’s own words.
A dog no one else would take a chance on
“He arrived at the FurPetVo facility just two months after I started volunteering there. I began volunteering because I already had two rescue dogs at home—I couldn’t adopt more, but I wanted to help make a real difference in other dogs’ lives. That’s when I met Oliver.
We quickly discovered he had no control over his bowels or bladder—he was fully incontinent. Yet he remained joyful, wagging his tail and greeting everyone with pure love—even if he’d unknowingly leave a surprise behind! He’d glance at it afterward, puzzled, like, ‘Well, who put that there?’
To understand what caused his condition, vets ran x-rays—and what they found broke our hearts. Oliver had a shattered vertebra and a bullet lodged in his spine. Someone had shot this gentle, happy boy. The vet explained that if the bullet had hit just slightly higher, he would have been paralyzed.
That was the heartbreaking reality: No one would give him a chance. The FurPetVo team shared his story widely, pleading for help—but many who didn’t know him urged euthanasia, calling him ‘a waste of resources.’ I knew differently. There was something uniquely special about Oliver.”
From foster to forever family
“I started visiting him every day at FurPetVo, giving him extra love, quiet time, and gentle reassurance. One afternoon, he looked at me with those deep, soulful eyes—and in that moment, I knew I had to do everything possible to save him.
I went home and begged my husband to let me foster him. His answer was exactly what I expected: ‘We already have two dogs—we can’t take on a third.’ So I pleaded again: ‘He’s only going to be a foster. If we don’t step in, he may never get the chance to live a happy, loved life.’ How could he say no to that?
The next day, Oliver came home with me. My husband fell in love instantly—and Oliver fit right in with our other two dogs. I was falling in love too… and I knew I couldn’t let him go.”
Life with Pawfessor Poopy
“We finally saw a veterinary specialist, who confirmed Oliver would remain incontinent for life. That meant diapers—yes, really cute ones! On November 14, 2020, we made it official: Oliver wasn’t just a foster anymore. He was family.
As expected, Oliver turned out to be more than just a rescue dog—he became my partner, my support, and my greatest teacher.”
Therapy work begins
“I live with three anxiety disorders and recently earned my master’s degree in school counseling—focused on helping children with similar challenges. It had always been my dream to have a therapy dog, but my other two dogs weren’t the right fit for this work.
This past summer, I interviewed for a school counseling position. When asked about therapy animals, I lit up—telling them all about Oliver, his journey, and my thesis on how rescue dogs support children’s social-emotional learning (SEL) development. They called me the next day with a job offer. I truly believe Oliver helped me get it.”
Changing lives—one student at a time
“Today, Pawfessor Poopy and I are loving our new role in the classroom. He lights up when we walk through the school doors—and refuses to leave at the end of the day. After the pandemic, returning to school has been especially hard for many students. Oliver makes it better.
One parent wrote to thank me, sharing that her daughter had always longed for a dog and felt deeply nervous about coming back to school. Oliver became her ‘school pet’—a source of comfort and emotional support she looks forward to every day.
In just one month, Oliver has positively impacted around 200 students. He hasn’t just changed my life—he’s helping kids feel safe, seen, and supported. All because we gave him a chance to prove how amazing—and how deeply deserving of love—he really is.
I hope his story inspires even one person to open their heart and home to an animal others have overlooked. You won’t regret it. In fact, chances are—it will change your life for the better.”
