Vets said German shepherd should be euthanized but one woman refused to give up on him
Dogs deserve long and happy lives much as we do.
So when a dog was given up to be put down, one woman canāt just let that happen. Itās a story of the persistence to live, unconditional faith, and a heart that will defy all odds.
This story will leave you in tears together with a lesson that we donāt give up on the people and animals we love the most.
Doc, an old and ailing German shepherd dog was surrendered to a shelter.
His previous owners claimed that he canāt walk. And as a senior dog, it would only be difficult to take care of him from here on so his owners decided to give him up.
Fate was cruel to Doc because, on that same day, he was scheduled to be put down.
McKenzie wouldnāt let that happen, though.
She felt an intense emotional connection with Doc and she just couldnāt explain why. She just felt that she needed to take care of him.
She took Doc and fostered him at least until he gets a little bit healthier.
When they took him to the doctors, however, McKenzie was stunned.
After the test results came back, the vet speculated that he has degenerative myelopathy. Itās a disease that affects the spinal cord, which results in slowly progressive hind limb weakness and paralysis. Itās common with big dogs like Doc.
His recommendation is even harder to stomach. He recommended that Doc be humanely euthanized after all heās been through.
McKenzie believes that Doc doesnāt deserve that.
She hated the thought that he will be spending his last day sitting by himself in an exam room. So she asked the doctor if she could give him a good ālast 24 hoursā. The doctor agreed.
McKenzie doesnāt know the last time Doc has been outside so they set up a small picnic in their front lawn so Doc can play with his new toys.
At that moment, McKenzie had an idea.
She said, what if they try and let him walk? They wrapped a cloth under his belly to lift him. Then they threw his toys around and asked him to retrieve them. With their assistance, Doc walked with his front paws. But they noticed something that filled them with hope.
There were movements, little movements, on his hind legs. McKenzie believes that he was using them to walk.
That picnic became a turning point in Doc’s life.
McKenzie told his fiancĆ©, “Grant, I cannot consciously put this dog down.” To which he just said “Me neither. Good!” It was decided at that point that they won’t give up on the old ailing dog.
“I called the vet and said, ‘Hey I’m sorry but I’m going to have to cancel,” McKenzie told The Dodo
From then on, they just focused on Doc’s holistic recovery.
They practiced standing up and walking. Little by little, Doc regained control of his hind parts. From laying down, he sat up by himself.
He began to walk faster, more confidently, and was showing signs of energy and excitement.
Until one day, they let go of Doc’s hind support.
At first, he was dragging the entire half of his body. His walk was still confident, though. Even as his hind legs weren’t bearing weight, they were gaiting.
Tingnan ang post na ito sa Instagram
“He decided he didn’t want to leave us!” McKenzie told the Dodo. “He wanted to live!”
Soon enough, Doc was running and playing with his pack. Sure, he can lag behind sometimes but heās walking and supporting his weight all by himself. He was a brand new dog, and itās all thanks to the people who never gave up on him.
Tingnan ang post na ito sa Instagram
Heās now living his senior years with the couple together with their other dogs. You can catch up with him through the coupleās IG account.
Watch how this woman turned a dogās life around when she refused to put him down.
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
Source: YouTube – The Dodo, Instagram – kaiserthesablegsd, VCA Hospitals