When Carlie stopped by the pet store to run an errand for her mom, she didn’t know that she was about to meet a one-of-a-kind pup — and that both of their lives would soon change for the better.
An adoption event was being held at the store, and that was where she laid eyes on Shorty.
Shorty had lived his whole life with one owner until she had passed away. His health was poor due to his previous home conditions, his age, and his grief.
He lay his 18-pound frame on his bed and looked dejected. But Carlie knew she could make a difference in his life. It wasn’t long before she took him home.
Carlie knew that Shorty’s journey to spending his golden years happy and healthy would be a challenging one. He had a thyroid condition, low energy, and was twice his ideal, healthy weight.
“I just started feeding him less, and then replacing his extra food with green beans. And I got him his blood work done, and found out he needed to be on medication twice a day,” Carlie explained on Good Morning America. “And then when he lost a few pounds, we just started taking him to the dog park and he can run around and play.”
Shorty also became best friends with Toad, Carlie’s other rescue pup. He successfully lost 9 pounds, reaching his ideal weight and living out the rest of his days in good health.
When he sadly passed away, Carlie eulogized him on Instagram, writing, “I don’t think I’ve ever loved a pet so much.”
Shorty’s story goes to show that adopting senior pups can be a challenge, but it is so, so rewarding! See more of Shorty on his Instagram here!
Source: The Animal Rescue Site Blog
