An animal rescue organization intervened to help a sick pony after discovering her wandering the streets of South Los Angeles. Joey Tuccio, an animal rescue advocate, began searching for the pony, named Dolly, after seeing videos on social media that depicted her being towed along by a man on a bicycle.
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Tuccio commented on his mission, saying, "We do a lot on Skid Row, in South LA. When I saw this pony, I was like, 'Well, OK, I'll treat this like a very big pit bull.'" He traveled around the neighborhood, visiting local businesses to gather information on Dolly's whereabouts. While he was searching, a rescue organization contacted him, ready to assist in her rescue. Shortly after, a neighbor located Dolly and her owner and informed Tuccio.
Tuccio was able to persuade the owner that the situation was unacceptable, stating, "He kind of understood, but at the end of the day we have to make sure the animal is taken care of." After bringing Dolly for a veterinary examination, it became clear that she was unwell. "She has full pneumonia, might need a blood transfusion," Tuccio noted. "There's no reason why a pony should be walking around for months on the streets without proper vet care."
Dolly is currently at an animal hospital receiving breathing treatments. Although she has shown some improvement and regained some energy, her recovery is still ongoing. The rescue organization plans to keep her at their sanctuary, even though they have received numerous adoption inquiries. Tuccio emphasized the importance of awareness: "I hope more people, when they see a pony being exploited like that or dragged around the streets, this actually is not OK."