As a puppy, Xena was found so emaciated that she was given a 1% chance of survival.
When she was first rescued, she was literally skin and bones, and everyone who saw photographs of her was horrified.
However, she was determined to live, and she remarkably survived!
However, Xena’s incredible survival tale did not end there. The Hickey family adopted the “warrior puppy,” and she formed a strong connection with Jonny Hickey, a young boy with autism. Linda, Jonny’s mother, had followed Xena’s rescue and recovery from the start and believed that her son and Xena were destined to assist one another. The presence and affection of Xena have had a profound effect on Jonny. Before her arrival, he rarely spoke, but after she arrived, he began to open up.
With his closest friend by his side, he is fearless of trying new things and venturing out into the world.
The inseparable closest friends support each other in all of their endeavors. The best friends continue to spread throughout the globe a message of compassion for both animals and people with autism.
