Arizona Dog Curled Up In His Kennel For Months Until A Volunteer Noticed A Troubling Clue About His Past
When a misunderstood Arizona shelter dog was repeatedly passed over for adoption, one dedicated volunteer stepped in to give him the love and medical care he desperately needed.
A Misunderstood Gentle Giant
To the casual observer, Sully might look a little intimidating. When he goes for walks, people will sometimes cross the street to avoid him.
Strangers have even asked if he is a mean dog or if he has a history of biting anyone. But beneath his tough exterior lies a heart of pure gold.
“He doesn’t have a mean bone in his body, but he definitely gets judged for how he looks,” shared Julia, a volunteer at the Maricopa County Animal Shelter.
In reality, Sully was just a giant baby who craved affection. He was desperate for love, even if the world didn’t quite understand him yet.
Overlooked And Waiting
Life at the shelter was incredibly hard on Sully’s body. He was extremely stiff in his joints, and he would shuffle when he tried to walk.
Despite the physical pain, he was always thrilled to get out of his kennel. Yet, in a heartbreaking display of resignation, he never fought going back inside.
He would simply walk back in, climb onto his bed, and curl up. At his lowest point, he was only getting out for walks about once a week.
He sat there for a couple of months without a single meet and greet. No one showed any interest in taking him home.
Special Day Trips
Seeing this sweet boy constantly overlooked broke Julia’s heart. She knew she had to intervene and bring some joy into his lonely routine.
She started visiting him almost every single day at the shelter. Soon, those visits turned into special little day trips away from the noisy kennels.
Sully absolutely loved going for rides in the car. Julia would drive him to a local park and lay out a blanket just for him.
They would spend quiet hours together under the sky. For the first time in a long time, Sully had someone who truly saw him.
Learning To Be An Indoor Dog
Julia grew increasingly worried that no one was ever going to pick him. Unable to bear the thought of him being sad in his kennel, she brought him home to foster.
It quickly became apparent that Sully had likely never lived inside a house before. The transition to indoor living was a steep learning curve.
It took him about six months to become fully house-trained. While some people might have gotten frustrated, Julia only felt her heart break for his past.
Once he finally settled in, his true personality blossomed. He decided he was a lap dog, insisting that his head always had to be touching his human.
Clues About A Difficult Past
As Julia spent more time with Sully, she began to piece together the sad reality of his previous life. His elbows were completely worn down.
Based on the way he sat outside, it looked as though he had spent his entire life living on a rough cement patio in someone’s backyard.
She also learned the heartbreaking story of how he ended up at the shelter. He had been dumped along with a female dog and their four puppies.
The puppies were almost eight weeks old, and Sully had stayed right by his family’s side. Eventually, the puppies and the mother were all adopted, leaving Sully as the only one left behind.
Healing His Aching Body
Sully is only five years old, but his rough past makes him act like a much older senior dog. He is extremely bow-legged in the front due to bad genetics.
When Julia first brought him home, she thought he might need surgery to fix his legs. Unfortunately, veterinarians determined there was nothing surgical that could be done.
Instead, Julia committed to doing everything else possible to make him comfortable. He now receives regular joint injections and visits an acupuncturist.
He also does physical therapy, wears custom leg braces, and completes daily exercises at home. Thanks to this dedicated care, he gets around so much better.
Stepping Into A Fatherly Role
Sully’s gentle nature truly shined when Julia decided to foster and adopt another dog. He instantly fell completely in love with his new sister.
Despite his own physical limitations, he immediately took on a nurturing, protective role in the household.
He acts as though he is her father, taking his responsibilities very seriously. Every morning, he gently cleans her teeth and ears.
He proved to be the easiest dog Julia had ever cared for. He never makes a peep; he just wants to be close to his family and share his love.
The Perfect Forever Home
Despite everything he had been through—the neglect, the physical pain, and being left behind at the shelter—Sully never let his circumstances break his spirit.
His tail never stopped wagging, and he always kept a big, goofy smile on his face. He just needed someone to give him a chance.
It didn’t take long for Julia to realize that her foster dog had already found his permanent place in the world.
“Pretty soon after I brought him home, I was like, ‘There’s no way this dog is leaving,'” Julia shared. “He’s home.”
