From Bottle Feedings to Best Friends: Carleigh and Stella Rose’s Story

There’s something about a girl and her dog that just feels like home. You know the kind of love that doesn’t need words? The kind that gets you through finals, heartbreaks, and the quiet moments that feel impossibly heavy? That’s the love between Carleigh and Stella Rose — a bond that began before Stella’s eyes were even open, and one that only grows stronger with time.

"I saved Stella when she was 2 weeks old when her mom put her aside. She had a cyst in her nasal cavity making it to where she could not nurse to eat. I had to bottle feed her until she was old enough to eat puppy food. She helped me as my 'emotional support dog' through nursing school. She grew up in my lap studying. I need her and she needs me. We saved each other." – Carleigh

That quote says it all, doesn’t it? Two souls stitched together by resilience, late nights, and quiet comfort. In those small, everyday moments — cradling Stella in her lap, flipping through textbooks; Carleigh found her anchor.

Stella Rose, a beautiful 3-year-old Boykin Spaniel, may have started life as the runt pushed aside, but now she’s thriving. Her soulful eyes and ever-loyal heart are the kind of things that stay with you.

Because the love between Carleigh and Stella Rose isn’t just about walks in the park or snuggles on the couch — it’s about showing up for each other through the messy, quiet, everyday moments that really matter. With a little help from the wonderful team at RMC Ambulatory Veterinary Services in St. Matthews, SC, Stella grew into the vibrant, joyful pup she is today — proof that sometimes it truly takes a village. Through our fine art portraiture in Charleston, SC, we capture these tiny but powerful slices of life, the ones that make you smile, tear up, or just feel a little lighter. Carleigh and Stella’s story was part of our Who Saved Who project, celebrating the pets and people who change each other’s lives in ways no one else can. At Castelo we turn every nuzzle, every sleepy cuddle, every glance that says “I’m here for you” into more than just a memory — we turn it into art you can hold onto forever. And honestly, isn’t that what love is supposed to feel like?

If you think you and your pet have a story like this, learn more and apply below to see if you’re a good fit for our Who Saved Who project.

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“Maybe we don’t rescue them at all. Maybe they rescue the parts of us we didn’t know needed saving.”

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