Animal shelters do incredible work giving pets a second chance. Some animals arrive at shelters in shocking condition, but they still step up to give them the love and care they need.
That was the case for a dog named Libby, who had a tumor the size of a volleyball. But now, her story has a happy ending.
In August, the Humane Society for Tacoma and Pierce County, in Washington state, took in a stray pit bull named Libby. They said the dog was “full of life” and had a “sweet face and kind eyes.”
However, Libby also had a serious medical concern: a 10-pound tumor the size of a volleyball, one of the largest masses they had ever seen:
Libby arrived at a hectic time for the shelter: HSTPC says Libby was just one of three urgent cases they responded to in 48 hours, and as Washington’s largest-intake shelter dozens of new animals were arriving every day.
Despite that, they resolved to give Libby the best possible care, even though they weren’t sure what the future had in store for the poor dog.
“She deserves the most compassionate care possible, but we don’t know what her outcome will be at this time,” the shelter wrote in August. “Our veterinary team is working on every possible option and will start with testing to understand what kind of tumor Libby has. For now, she is receiving pain medication to ease her discomfort and endless love from our staff.”
After giving Libby an x-ray, they discovered the tumor was in the bone of her upper right leg, and would require amputation. Reactive inflammation caused the tumor to swell to its unusual size, and was causing her agonizing pain.
Through generous donations from supporters, the shelter was able to pay for Libby’s leg amputation. The surgery, done by the vet staff at BluePearl Pet Hospital, was a success and Libby was finally free of the pain she had been living through.
Sadly, even though her tumor was gone, she was diagnosed with aggressive bone cancer, and her time on earth might be limited. But in happy news, Libby has found a home!
According to HSTPC, a vet tech fell in love with Libby and agreed to adopt her. Even though she knows that Libby might not live long, she wanted to fill her remaining days with love.
“There’s something in her eyes that begs for love and safety,” her new adopter said, according to a Facebook post. “I couldn’t turn away from that.”
Libby has now been renamed “Wiggles” and is enjoying her new home, playing with her dog brother and family and taking lots of cozy naps on the couch.
“Though we’re uncertain how much time she has left, we know she’ll spend her remaining days
A sad dog in the shelter can scarcely raise her head and begs softly for a reassuring pat on the back.
John Hwang, an animal enthusiast and photographer, encountered a dog at a shelter that utterly stole his heart.
A sad dog at a shelter can barely lift her head to ask for a hug.
John Hwang, an animal enthusiast and photographer, met a nice dog at the Baldwin Park animal shelter in Los Angeles. The guy often visits such facilities to spend time with animals in need of affection, and it was there that he saw the 10-year-old dog, who was quite depressed and curled up in a corner, not moving at all.
The Dodo was informed by John. “My first reaction was that this dog was bashful or sad and didn’t want to engage with me.” “I was astonished when she came me when she saw me.”
Indeed, as soon as she spotted John, she went on all fours, and he observed that she was shivering slightly.
A shelter dog lifts her head to be petted.
“She appeared clumsy, yet the way she moved was adorable,” John adds. She was filthy, but her heart was pure.”
The dog wanted to be loved. She began by sniffing John from a safe distance, but before long, her body was leaning against the fence, as if yearning to be a member of a family. Of course, John began caressing her, and they spent some time together relaxing and enjoying one other’s company.
“We certainly could have sat there all day,” John continued.
Although the dog seemed afraid at first, she rapidly showed John all the love she had to offer, teaching us not to judge a book by its cover or a dog by its appearance. He has the impression that he is in a refuge.
She came to find a loving home, and her dream was granted. It turns out that this dog’s tiny deed made others feel so much affection and share her tale. Thousands of people have seen John Hwang’s images on social media.
“A lot of people were in love with this female dog and were trying all they could to attempt to get her out,” John says.
Leashes of Love Rescue, which specialized in rescuing dogs from high-death shelters, was among many devastated by the dog’s fate. Cathi Perez, a group volunteer, picked up the dog, called “Annabelle,” as soon as the shelter listed her for adoption. When Annabelle was brought to Cathi, she was standing, offering kisses and waving her tail.
“She was so delighted to get out of her kennel,” Kathy explains. Simply going for a stroll outside. The second time she came out, she was overjoyed. She wasn’t the same dog anymore.
She was brought to the vet for a checkup to cure an eye infection, which was one of a number of health concerns that needed to be treated. She will be picked up in a few days by a lady who has already provided her a permanent home.
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