Dogs can bring immense joy into our lives, which makes it all the more heartbreaking when people mistreat these helpless creatures. Despite the love many have for dogs, neglect, abuse, and abandonment still occur every day.
The team at an animal shelter in New York, Animal Sanctuary, is all too familiar with this harsh reality. But nothing could have prepared them for what they were about to witness.
Two young girls found an abandoned dog under the Manhattan Bridge and quickly brought him to the shelter. When the staff saw the dog for themselves, they were in shock.
The dog was so emaciated and in such poor condition that they weren’t sure if he would survive. But the team was determined to do everything they could to ensure this poor pup had a chance at a happy ending.
A Challenging Recovery
Before bringing the dog to the shelter, the two girls wrapped him in warm blankets, showing that there are still people with big hearts willing to help those in need. However, there was only so much they could do, so the shelter staff and volunteers took over his care.
Fortunately, this dog was in good hands.
Nicole Chan, the director of marketing and communications at Animal Haven, shared with The Dodo, “When we first brought him inside, everyone was very sad just seeing his condition.”
Despite being skin and bones, the dog, now named Timmy, showed a surprising will to live. The rescue team was encouraged, but they rushed him to the emergency vet, where his dire condition was confirmed.
In addition to being severely emaciated, Timmy had wounds on his skin that appeared to be cigarette burns. The vets also diagnosed him with pneumonia.
Given his condition, the veterinarians warned that Timmy would need a long hospital stay. But despite the uncertainty, Timmy slowly began to recover, thanks to the incredible care from the vet team, shelter staff, and generous donors who supported his treatment.
A Fresh Start
After 36 days in the hospital, Timmy was finally well enough to be discharged. Although he still had a long road to full recovery, he had taken a significant first step.
Back at the shelter, Timmy was welcomed with open arms, but his stay there was short-lived. Animal Haven received numerous foster care offers for Timmy, and it wasn’t long before they found the perfect temporary home for him.
Alison, his foster mom, quickly formed a strong bond with Timmy. “Right away, he wouldn’t leave my side,” Alison shared. “Whenever I sat on the couch, he’d jump up and stay right next to me.”
Timmy’s health improved faster than expected, and emotionally, he was healing too. Despite all he’d been through, he was once again a happy dog full of positive energy.
A Happy Ending
After several weeks with his foster mom, Timmy received the best news of all—he was officially adopted by Alison. “After three weeks, I couldn’t imagine giving him back to be adopted by someone else,” Alison said. “It just made sense—this works.”
On the day of the adoption, Alison brought Timmy back to Animal Haven’s headquarters. The staff was overjoyed to see him again, now a completely transformed dog from the one they had first rescued.
In a final Facebook post about Timmy, Animal Haven thanked everyone who played a part in his journey. They ended the post with a powerful message that brings tears of joy: “Working in animal rescue is often difficult, but it is unimaginably rewarding. When animals like Timmy come through our doors, it can make you lose faith in the world. But happy endings like this make it all worthwhile.”
