Leo had too many burdens on his back.
So many problems, but so little time has passed under his paws.
He aged too soon. The gray hair around his face did not make him look like a distinguished gentleman. He became a tired gentleman… too tired of life, with no will to continue.
Leo gave up.
But what Leo didn’t know was that someone hadn’t abandoned him.
While his shelter friends went to their forever families, Leo stayed behind, watching them leave with tears in his eyes.
Very quickly, this poor old friend felt insensitive to everything, even food and water.
Change was about to come into Leo’s life in the most drastic way.
He’s not that old after all
Older dogs are always neglected by potential adopters. No one really wants an older dog with an expiration date, and that’s the sad truth.
But sometimes people should move past those labels and offer second chances. Sometimes the eyes don’t see what’s in front of them very well.
When Deanna saw Leo at his local shelter in Texas, she read everything in his sad eyes. Leo no longer had the strength to continue fighting.
But Deanna had an ace up her sleeve: her kindness and her other Pittie, Kallie.
Leo and Kallie clicked immediately. It was as if she had brought back the spark of his life.
You can say the rest is history because poor rejected Pittie went home that day with Deanna and Kallie.
Leo got the house he had always been deprived of.
But Léo did not leave the shelter without anything with him: he carried a secret surprise.
Although the shelter thought he was between 10 and 12 years old, it turned out those gray hairs were just fashion accessories.
Leo was actually five years old when Deanna adopted him! He fooled us all, but in a good way. This meant there was a lot more time for Deanna, Leo and Kallie to spend time together.
Life couldn’t be sweeter!
Learn to dog
Unfortunately, Leo wasn’t like other dogs. I say Unfortunately because he didn’t know how to behave like a dog. Apparently, Leo was a backyard dog, never cuddling or playing with anyone. He lacked human attention and affection throughout his life.
Well, it’s a good thing Deanna was there to shower him with love, and his big sister, Kallie, couldn’t wait to show him the art of dogging.
Getting used to being an indoor dog was strawberry. Leo has never seen a dishwasher, nor its reflection in anything shiny.
He didn’t even know how to play with toys! But he knew how to appreciate the little things like comfortable beds and warm blankets, and he always tried to show how grateful he was.
Little by little, Leo opened up and began to behave like a real dog. He even got to enjoy car rides – his favorite thing of all!
What Deanna didn’t realize at first was that Leo had arrived with a few other surprises that showed he was indeed an older soul trapped in the body of a young dog. For example, Leo came to see them with arthritis in all his limbs.
A closer look showed that Leo also needed knee surgery – on two of his knees, to be precise. These health problems were all due to Leo being once kept as a backyard dog, permanently chained and without proper nutrition or exercise routines.
Another reason why I cannot stress enough the importance of exercise for dogs.
Luckily, for Leo, a little touch-up at the vet helped him feel better. He wasn’t a brand new dog, but he felt good. And that was enough to lead a normal life.
“He’s such an amazing dog. I needed him as much as he needed me. I just want him to feel that and know that I’m going to give him everything he deserves,” Deanna said.
We need more people like Deanna – people who care about senior dogs.
Unfortunately, the situation in shelters, not just in Texas, is not that bad. Older dogs are always chosen last…if ever. Young dogs and puppies are more likely to be adopted.
This is completely false. Every shelter dog should have the same opportunity to have a forever family. Every dog counts, no matter if it’s a senior citizen, a puppy, or a pregnant stray caught on the street.
Every dog needs a loving home.
Do you have room in yours for a four-legged best friend?
