Puppy On His Last Legs Fights To Live After He Is Taken From Shelter

Oct 07, 2020 by apost team

One of the most amazing things about animals is their fighting spirit. When dogs get to a place in life where most people would give up or decide the situation is hopeless, dogs seem to have an endless source of hope. Sometimes, this willingness to keep fighting is truly astounding.

The dog in this video is Jack, and he was in indescribably dire straights. When the vet found Jack, he was very close to death. He was grossly underweight, covered in wounds and sores, and had almost no hair. Had he not been rescued it would have only been a matter of days or even hours before Jack lost the ability to keep fighting.

Thankfully, Jack got the help he needed. This video was posted by Vet Ranch, a YouTube channel based out of Boerne, Texas. The owner of this channel, Dr. Matt Carriker, has devoted his life to helping the animals that need it the most. When you look at the state that Jack was in, the slogan of Vet Ranch comes into its own: "We're Gonna Fix 'Em All!"

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Many people would have looked at Jack and assumed there was nothing that could be done. Frankly, to most people, the humane path would have been to euthanize Jack to put him out of his pain and suffering. This would be an understandable sentiment.

When Dr. Matt found this castaway pup, there did not seem to be much hope. The dog was having extreme difficulty breathing, and couldn't eat or drink without assistance. Even walking or lifting his head posed too great a challenge for the injured dog.

Being a stray, it is impossible to know what happened to Jack. He may have been born a stray. However, when you see how readily he accepts being around people, this seems less likely. Truly feral dogs are often extremely suspicious or fearful of humans. Yet, Jack was quick to accept help despite his weakness. Sadly, the more likely scenario is that Jack was abandoned.

Every year, thousands of dogs are cast away by their owners. Sometimes they are given to shelters, but all too often they are simply abandoned in nature. Naive owners will often buy dogs without considering the responsibility they are undertaking. Then, once the dog becomes "inconvenient", they simply throw it away like common garbage. Domesticated dogs are not equipped to survive in the wild. When heartless owners abandon their once-loved pets, the situation Jack ended up in is often the result.

Thankfully, someone did care about Jack. Dr. Matt has a huge amount of experience resuscitating "lost cause" animals. Often, the ability of a dog like Jack to heal is truly incredible. They simply need time, love, and nutrition. Once Jack was in the care of Vet Ranch, he was carefully examined and cleaned up. His wounds were inspected and stitched if needed.

Then he began his long healing process. With enough nutrition and supplements, Jack slowly starting to regain his health. His coat began to fill back in and the light returned to his eyes. Over time, he was able to start walking. Then running. Then finally, he found the spirit of the puppy within.

By the end of the video, it is hard to even recognize Jack. From the crumpled and downtrodden pile of bones emerged an energetic and loving dog who wants nothing more than to run and play with his friends. The transformation is truly stunning. It is always an incredible feeling to know that such a dog can learn to feel loved again. What's your favorite story of an animal finding hope?