Rescue dog with uncommon auto-immune disease inspires shelter staff with his will to thrive
Back in 2019, Skiatook Paws and Claws Animal Rescue welcomed a new rescued dog.
It was Phoenix.
A dog who was in a really bad condition and needed to receive treatment immediately.
Although he had probably not suffered physical abuse, he was obviously neglected by his former owners who let him reach that state.
It was obvious he needed help.
“He was skin and bones. You could see all his ribs and just so inflamed that he couldn’t close his eyes. He had so much swelling and inflammation in his face,” Carisa Ducharne, Phoenix’s rescuer told News on 6 at the time.
The volunteers at the rescue shelter and the vets that treated him concluded that he was probably suffering from a very rare autoimmune disease.
And, although his looks were quite scary for many- people even said they found him “freakish”- the dog was so sweet towards humans and sociable.
He just loved everyone around him.
He needed medical treatment, and he received it.
But the people at the shelter feared he wouldn’t be able to find a loving home because people only looked at the surface.
However, they were wrong.
One woman and her daughters fell in love with the special dog, and he fell in love with them, too.
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“Phoenix had found his person in Dr. Gena, and she could not have adored him more if she tried. Her heart was his and his heart was hers. All any dog wants is to find their person, and he was one of the lucky ones who did,” a post on Phoenix’s Instagram account reads.
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Sadly, the dog did not have the chance to enjoy his new family for long.
He left them in June 2020.
But his legacy will go on forever.
His story inspires not only those who rescue or end up adopting animals who suffer from rare diseases or whose looks make them look less cute than what is typically considered such.
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There are also humans who face marginalization and discrimination because they are disfigured in some way.
Those people are inspired by this lovely boy who was not called Phoenix because he survived a fire accident, but because of the fire burning inside him urging him to be his best self, always- even when others would have given up.
“Phoenix represented everything that is good, and everything that is pure. Phoenix was hope, and most importantly, Phoenix was love. He had been through so so much and never, ever lost his overwhelmingly beautiful spirit.”
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Although he suffered a lot during his life, he was lucky to finally meet people who loved him just as he was.
People who saw underneath the surface and fell in love with what he really represented.
And he gave back to them.
He loved them as only he knew how to do.
He filled their lives with joy and endless hugs. Moments Gena and her daughters will cherish forever.
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See a touching video in memory of Phoenix below.
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
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