Illinois Dog Found Freezing And Shut Down Finally Learns How To Be A Pup Again
After being discovered in the freezing cold of Illinois, a shut-down dog is given a chance to experience a warm bed, toys, and love for the very first time.
A Sea Of Forgotten Faces
Walking through an animal shelter can be an overwhelming experience.
With over 250 dogs hoping to catch someone’s eye, it is easy for a quiet, shut-down pup to blend into the background.
One rescuer was walking past the endless rows of kennels when a particular dog caught her attention.
He was so defeated that he barely even picked his head up to look at her as she passed by.
A Harsh Winter Past
This gentle soul had already endured more than any animal ever should.
He was found in January on the South Side of Chicago, left to fend for himself in the freezing cold.
Despite his weathered appearance, rescuers discovered that he wasn’t actually an older dog.
His rough shape was simply the result of surviving in incredibly poor living conditions.
Choosing The Underdog
Despite the neglect he had faced, his sweet nature still managed to shine through.
He would just sit there in his kennel and offer a gentle smile to anyone who stopped to notice him.
For him to remain such a loving dog after everything he had been through was nothing short of a miracle.
Knowing he needed a safe place to decompress, the rescuer immediately decided she wanted to foster him.
Heading To A Real Home
The moment he was pulled from his kennel, his sweet and squishy personality became obvious.
His foster mom lovingly called him a “marshmallow” as she admired his adorable rolls.
With a cheerful, “Let’s go home, Big Fella,” she led him out of the shelter and toward a new beginning.
She knew that the best dogs are often found in places people wouldn’t normally look.
Lingering Scars From The Cold
Once he was safely settled into his foster home, his past trauma began to reveal itself.
His foster mom quickly noticed that he was incredibly sensitive to the cold, a lingering reminder of his time on the winter streets.
You could just tell that whatever had happened to him out there had left a lasting impact.
To help him brave the chilly walks, she bought him a special pair of booties to protect his paws.
Experiencing Firsts
The booties were a massive hit, giving the sweet boy a sudden burst of speed and confidence on their walks.
But the outdoors wasn’t the only place he was experiencing things for the very first time.
Inside the house, he was introduced to his first stuffed toy and his very first soft doggy bed.
Watching him interact with these simple comforts, his foster mom realized he didn’t even know how to be a dog.
Learning To Dog
He was incredibly quiet during his time in foster care, only barking a single time.
While he was making wonderful progress, his foster mom knew he still had a lot of growing to do.
She decided that his permanent home needed to have another dog to show him the ropes.
She felt that having a confident canine companion would finally teach him how to just be a normal, carefree pup.
A Perfect Forever Family
Her wish for his future came true when the perfect family stepped up to adopt him.
He ended up in a wonderful home where he gained an older doggy sister named Lola.
His foster mom believes he didn’t fully come out of his shell until he was finally settled in this permanent home with Lola by his side.
Seeing a dog go from their absolute worst moments to living their best life is exactly what makes fostering so incredibly rewarding.
