When Oats and her four tiny siblings were relinquished to our San Luis Valley Animal Center in late 2024, it was clear the puppies had been suffering for some time. Each presented with skin so dry and inflamed, no amount of itching could have ever provided relief. But that certainly didn’t stop them from trying. Once transferred to our Leslie A. Malone Center in Denver, Oats was diagnosed with scabies, demodex mites, and deep pyoderma – contagious skin conditions that often result when the immune system is weakened by malnutrition.
Over the next month, our veterinary and animal care teams treated Oats and her littermates with antibiotics, parasite protection, and twice-weekly medicated baths – all while carefully preventing the spread of disease throughout the shelter. Like all of the animals in our care, the pups also benefited from a regular diet of quality food provided by our partners at Hill’s Pet Nutrition. After just three weeks, Oats’ conditions were significantly improved, and she was beginning to seem more like a typical 4-month-old puppy – playful, mouthy, and best of all, comfortable in her own skin.
Shortly after she was fully healed, Oats was spayed and made available for adoption. And then, almost like magic, the loves of her life arrived. As a newly engaged couple, Zenetta (or Zee) and her now husband, Shehab, came to Humane Colorado looking to add a puppy to their family. When they walked by Oats’ kennel, Zee couldn’t help but be drawn to the calm way Oats was looking at her through the glass. “Oh, her boba tea eyes,” she said, reflecting on the moment. “It felt like, in that instant, we picked each other.”
Since that day, Oats – now Oatchi – has been the apple of everyone’s eye, bringing laughs and inspiration to the couple and their extended families. Named after a sweet rescue dog in one of their favorite video games, Pikmin, Oatchi has spent the last year soaking up the love and all life has to offer.
As self-identified “inside people,” both Zee and Shehab shared that adopting her has helped them spend more time outdoors. Together, the family has visited national parks, explored miles of hiking trails, and is already planning a beach trip for next year. “We want her to do and see a lot of things, because, you know, this is her first time living too,” said Zee. “She is only going to experience as much of the world as we show her.”
In addition to her love of adventure, Oatchi also enjoys swimming, cuddling during Love Island marathons, and donning the latest fashions, particularly those made by Zee herself.
Not long after welcoming her home, Zee had trouble finding cute apparel large enough to fit Oatchi’s frame. This experience – combined with Zee’s flair for sewing – inspired the couple to start their own custom bandana and pet accessory business, OvernightOatchi (find them on Instagram at @overnightoatchi). Some of Oatchi’s favorite designs include a bandana made from Zee’s bridal veil to celebrate the big day, and another featuring a brain and neuron pattern in honor of Zee’s graduate studies in Modern Human Anatomy.
In so many ways, Oatchi’s companionship has made life sweeter for her new family. From brightening Shehab’s work-from-home days to sticking to Zee’s side like the most comfortable Velcro, she has made an impact that is impossible to measure. “Oatchi is not just our pet – she’s family, our muse, and the heartbeat of our home,” said Zee. “We would never want to do life without her.”
This article was originally published in the Autumn-Winter 2025 edition of Pet Tales. Read the latest Pet Tales.
