Some pups are born lucky—and others, like Emmie Serafin, are born fighters. Emmie, an Old English Bulldog, just turned one this May, and her journey to that milestone has been anything but ordinary.

Born with a cleft palate via emergency C-section, Emmie was deemed “unadoptable” by a breeder. Thankfully, the Puppy Mill Rescue Team stepped in, tube-feeding her until she could eat on her own and placing her in a loving foster home. That’s where fate took over. Nicole Serafin—Lancaster native and mom of two—spotted Emmie’s photo and knew she was meant to be part of the family.

Now a resident of Crabapple Lane, Emmie shares her home with her parents Nicole and Ryan, human siblings Adriana (a 19-year-old Army Reservist) and Dom (17), along with two dog siblings, Mollie and Charlotte, and an 18-year-old cat named Danny—whom Emmie is completely obsessed with.

Her first year was filled with challenges, including multiple surgeries to correct her cleft palate and additional procedures to address “cherry eye” along with a bout of pneumonia. Nicole even hand-fed her for the first 10 months. Despite it all, Emmie has grown into a playful, headstrong, and endlessly entertaining pup. She climbs on heads, steals shoes, and even has a “nookie” habit (mimicking nursing with her toys).

To mark her first birthday, the Serafin family celebrated with a cake smash—complete with a custom-made, dog-friendly cake from Mary’s Confections. Emmie also has her own TikTok page (@emmie.the.bulldog), where fans can follow her antics and larger-than-life personality.

For Nicole, Emmie’s resilience is inspiring. “I think she’s most grateful that we fixed her mouth—so she can breathe, eat, and just be a normal dog.”

One thing’s certain: there’s nothing ordinary about Emmie—and everything extraordinary about the love that saved her.