California Rescue Dog Had No Idea How To Be A Dog Until Vader Showed Him The Way
Found wandering near a California apartment complex, a skinny and crusty rescue dog named Louie learned how to be a dog again by clinging to his gentle 80-pound foster brother.
A Rough Start On The Streets
When Louie was first brought into rescue in California, he was in desperate need of a lifeline. He had been found wandering alone by someone near their apartment complex.
The poor pup was in terrible shape. His rescuer noted that he was super, super skinny and his skin was very crusty from neglect.
It was clear that his time on the streets had taken a heavy toll on his little body. He needed immediate medical attention, but more importantly, he needed to feel safe.
Seeking Constant Warmth
In his new foster home, Louie’s primary goal was simply to feel warm. His foster mom noticed that he constantly sought out comfort wherever he could find it.
“He wanted to be close to any warm body at all times,” she recalled. Assuming he was just freezing, she gave him warm clothing and wrapped him in soft blankets.
But the blankets weren’t quite enough to soothe his anxious heart. He was looking for a heartbeat to lean against.
Melting Into A Gentle Giant
Louie quickly found his ultimate source of comfort in the home’s resident dogs. He was especially drawn to a gentle giant named Vader.
“He just wanted to melt into Vader’s big 80 lb body,” his foster mom shared. For the first few days, Louie would simply position himself right next to the large dog.
As he grew more comfortable, his cuddling strategy evolved. He soon figured out that he could actually climb right on top of Vader for maximum warmth and security.
Healing With Baths And Meals
While Vader provided the emotional support, his foster mom worked hard on his physical recovery. Healing Louie’s skin and putting weight on his fragile frame took time and dedication.
She gave him medicated baths every couple of days to soothe his crusty skin. Slowly, the treatments began to provide him with some much-needed relief.
To help him gain weight safely, she fed him frequent, small meals throughout the day. Combined with plenty of treats, his body finally started to recover.
Learning The Ropes From His Pack
Living in a home was a completely new experience for the former street dog. Thankfully, he had Vader and another resident dog, Nora, to show him the ropes.
When treat time came around, Vader and Nora would calmly take their snacks. Louie watched them closely, learning that he had to wait his turn before getting his reward.
“All these dog things that you take for granted that Louie didn’t know, he learned from watching Vader and Nora,” his foster mom explained.
Respecting His Boundaries
The resident dogs seemed to understand exactly what Louie had been through. They instinctively knew how to interact with the fragile rescue pup.
“They were so gentle with him, they knew not to play with him too rough,” his foster mom noted. They gave him the space he needed while still including him in the pack.
By respecting his boundaries, Vader and Nora helped Louie realize that he was finally in a place where he could let his guard down.
An Emotional Reunion
Eventually, Louie grew healthy and confident enough to find his forever home. A couple of months after his adoption, his foster mom got the chance to see him again.
“I just thought it would be so amazing to see him again,” she said as she prepared for the reunion. She couldn’t wait to see how he was adjusting to his new life.
When she arrived, she was greeted by a completely transformed dog, along with his new dad and his new dog sibling, Cheese.
A 41-Pound Meatball
The moment she laid eyes on Louie, she was absolutely stunned by his progress. The once skinny, crusty dog was now a robust, happy boy.
“Oh, chunky!” she exclaimed, marveling at his new physique. His dad proudly announced that Louie now weighed a healthy 41 pounds.
Looking at the joyful “meatball” excitedly greeting his former foster mom, his dark past was entirely erased. “There were just no signs that he had gone through whatever it is that he went through on the streets,” she smiled, knowing his story had the perfect ending.
