Zach Skow, cofounder of Marley’s Mutts Dog Rescue, met a senior dog named Henry. 16-year-old Henry needed help so Skow took him in.

Zach fosters animals of all breeds and ages at his home where those animals await their new homes. Henry was probably surrendered by his previous owners because of multiple health problems.

That included cancer.

The dog had trouble walking when they first met.

“I saw them bring him out of his kennel, and he didn’t want to walk,” he said. “He couldn’t hear, he couldn’t see out of one eye. You could just tell he was really confused.”

“You could just feel his pain. So my original assessment was, ‘I don’t know if he’s gonna make it very long.’ I just wanted to get him home and get him loved and give him a good last couple of days, couple of weeks,” he added.

Zach initially thought it was going to be hospice care all the way. But Henry came back to life after a lot of love and care. Talk about rehabilitation!

All the old dog needed was a good night’s sleep and a delicious meal. Henry woke up the next day energized and ready to take on the world.

Henry was getting better by the hour and even Zach was surprised. The days went by and soon the dog was getting more comfortable in his new environment.

Eventually, Henry underwent surgery to remove his testicular cancer. That’s when Zach knew that Henry had plenty of years ahead of him. The dog’s personality began to show.

“It was a pretty radical turnaround,” Zach described Henry post-surgery. “Every day, he would add something to his repertoire.”

Then one morning, Henry followed Zach up the stairs. It was something he couldn’t do when he first arrived.

Henry would run around happily, becoming more playful around the yard. He would even chase Zach around!

Zach believes that Henry’s successful recovery was all the TLC the dog received. They made Henry feel like a part of the family, something the senior dog probably never felt.

It took about six weeks for adoption applications to start coming in. Henry wasn’t just a couple-of-weeks hospice dog after all!

Marley’s Mutts did find a new family for Henry. The precious dog may have been living his final days, but his new family wanted Henry to be as happy and comfortable as possible.

“He’s going to go out of this world surrounded by love, which is all we can ever ask for,” Zach said.

“He’s made our lives richer while we’ve had him, and he’s about to make the lives of those who adopt him richer.”

Henry gets a lot of love in his new forever home. He has dog siblings whom he shares kisses, soft beds, and yummy treats with.

Zach gave the senior dog a few more years. All Henry needed was love. And we’re just glad that the senior dog gets to spend his final years the way all dogs should be treated.

Watch the video below to see Henry’s transformation!

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Source: The Dodo, My Positive Outlooks