Emaciated pit bull heals by copying whatever her brother does
Animal cruelty, especially to domesticated animals like dogs, seems to be an unceasing problem all over the world. Most of them if not physically battered, abandoned, used in illegal dog fights, illegal meat trade, or starved to death.
Ironically, if only dogs could talk, they wouldn’t be calling us, humans, “dog’s best friends.”
Thankfully, goodness still prevails as the number of non-profits and even ordinary individuals keeps on racking up globally. These kindhearted groups and people are doing everything to the best of their ability to cure and eventually completely irradicate animal cruelty worldwide.
Everyone, meet Khaleesi
Khaleesi was extremely weak and was very thin when she was rescued. It was actually pretty impressive that she had managed to survive despite being in such an unimaginable state.
The kind-hearted people at Mutty Paws Rescue in Palm Beach County, FL, deserved all the credit for saving Khaleesi. Their mission was to rescue dogs that were at risk of being put down and provide them with extensive care to help them recover from severe abuse.
It’s sad to think that around 1.5 million shelter animals met a tragic end each year, and about 1 million animals suffered from abuse or lost their lives due to domestic violence. However, there were selfless individuals like Michelle and Don who took in and cared for dogs in need and ensured they had a chance at a better life.
“At the shelter, I found a dog that was extremely underweight,” Michelle shared with The Dodo. “I felt a strong urge to help her!”
Giving Khaleesi a second shot at life
Khaleesi finally found a safe haven with her new foster parents, Don and Michelle, they devoted themselves to her well-being. They provided her with clean and cute pajamas to sleep in and fed her small amounts of food every half hour.
“Adopting her never crossed my mind,” Don admitted. “I simply made a promise to nurse this dog back to health.”
And that’s exactly what he did. Little did he know that he was setting himself up for a “foster failure” – a term used when a foster parent falls in love with the dog and ends up adopting them.
“We celebrated every bit of progress,” Don confessed.
Khaleesi was initially so weak that she didn’t even have the strength to stand. Every step she took was a significant achievement. As she grew stronger and healthier, Don would place her food farther away, encouraging her to walk more to build up her strength.
Don and Michelle were Khaleesi’s biggest supporters, they wholeheartedly offered the dog unwavering encouragement every step of the way. But there was another important figure in Khaleesi’s journey: Sonny, Michelle and Don’s loyal pit bull companion.
A “brother” figure
Khaleesi began to imitate Sonny’s every move and followed his new-found furry brother very closely. However, Sonny, weighing 70 pounds, knew that he had to adjust his playfulness when interacting with Khaleesi, who couldn’t match his size and energy.
Don described Sonny as being “as gentle as possible” with his foster sister.
“He would lie down and say, ‘If you can’t get up, I’ll come next to you.’ Sonny chose to lie on his back beside Khaleesi so they could play together, even if she couldn’t stand,” Michelle recalled. “Sonny became her emotional support dog.”
As Khaleesi grew stronger, their bond deepened, and they were able to engage in running and playful activities. Their favorite game was a lively tug-of-war with their toys, which helped Khaleesi develop her back muscles.
“Foster fail”
When Khaleesi finally reached a state of good health, it became clear to Michelle, Don, and Sonny that they couldn’t bear to let her go.
“The moment we decided to adopt her, tears of joy streamed down my face,” Michelle remembered.
To celebrate this momentous occasion, they presented Khaleesi with a special cake, which she enjoyed. Of course, she made sure to share some with her big brother, Sonny.
“They are truly wonderful family dogs. If their lives or stories can change people’s perception of pit bulls, that would be a great victory,” Don emphasized.
Khaleesi’s story simply proved that there is always hope and that there are still people out there with a soft spot for dogs like her.
Watch Khaleesi’s unbelievable transformation in the video below.
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