‘Night-and-day difference’: Beloved puppy returns to Capital Humane Society

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Zephyr, a beloved puppy, returned to the Capital Humane Society on Tuesday with a crowd cheering her on.

The 9-month-old black lab was abandoned in a pumpkin patch and was severely malnourished.

She was so emaciated that she didn’t even have the strength to hold her own head up.

SEE ALSO: Capital Humane Society rescues 9-month-old puppy found in Pumpkin Patch

The shelter sent her down to Kansas State University for a blood transfusion.

After staying there for a week and a half, Zephyr had healed enough to come back to Lincoln.

“It was a bit of a relief and also excitement that she has gotten to this point where she can come back here and doesn’t need necessarily that high-intensity care,” said Matt Madcharo, the executive director of the humane society.

SEE ALSO: Capital Humane Society gives recovery update on puppy found in pumpkin patch

The team staged a welcome home party, and a big group got together to witness Zephyr’s return.

She loved the attention and wagged her tail. She even stole a few bites of a puppy cake.

Jake Bornschlegl, the director of veterinary medicine at the humane society, said it was incredible to see her walking around on her own.

“It’s a night-and-day difference, and only in about a two-week time period,” Bornschlegl said.

Thousands of people have watched Zephyr’s progress online and have cheered her on as she recovers.

“Every post we put out about her blows up,” Madcharo said. “She’s become sort of a little local celebrity, I think. And it just shows how much the community cares about pets.”

SEE ALSO: Capital Humane Society gives second update on puppy found in pumpkin patch

The humane society said she’s taking big steps forward, but there is still a long road to recovery ahead.

“It just going to depend on how fast she puts on weight,” Bornschlegl said. “As you saw, she’s still very much just skin and bones. So we’ll just have to take it day by day, week by week.”

For now, Zephyr is staying at Madcharo’s home for foster care.

He said it will likely take another month or two before she’s ready to be adopted.