The sweet senior dog named Bear got a second chance at life and love.
There's nothing more heartbreaking than seeing animals not able to find love in forever homes. Bear, an 11-year-old senior dog, ended up at a shelter after wandering the streets of Texas as a stray. What's worse is that he ended up on the shelter’s euthanasia list. Fortunately, the canine was rescued just in the nick of time! “He was one of 28 lives to be euthanized that day,” Madeline Garvis, BARC Animal Shelter volunteer, told The Dodo. “It’s unreal that a dog like him made it onto the euth list. His personality is perfect, and I mean truly — he’s so calm and friendly.”
According to the website, the shelter "takes in over 25,000 animals per year and works hard to find a home for each and every one." Sometimes BARC seeks help from fosters and rescue organizations to help "animals with medical conditions, behavioral conditions, animals who have been in the shelter for long periods of time, and animals who otherwise are at high risk for euthanasia and in immediate need of assistance to leave the shelter. "
As for Bear, the sweet pooch arrived at the shelter in June and it seemed like he already knew something was wrong. The animal stopped raising his head from his bed and looked like he had given up all hope. In a TikTok video, Bear was described as "one of the saddest dogs I'd ever seen." Until Garvis decided to take the canine outside. Bear's spirit came alive when he got to go out and feel the sun and also indulge in some cuddles. He even knew a few tricks like "shake." “We found a dog who suddenly knew how to shake, who loved being outside and who loved love,” Garvis said. Bear seemed to have completely transformed after leaving his kennel.
@madgarv go change some lives 💙 @BARC ANIMAL SHELTER VOLUNTEERS #fyp #adoptdontshop #fosteringsaveslives ♬ Married Life (From "Up") - Sergy el Som
“We have such little opportunity to meet the dogs and see how they act outside, which is clearly so much different, as evidenced by Bear,” Garvis said. “Not a bad thing to say about Bear. He’s leashed well, quiet, walked on leash so loose it was practically falling off of him, knew how to sit and shake, and is heartworm negative.” The senior dog became a favorite at the shelter and volunteers were determined to find him a loving home.
Fortunately for Bear, he was adopted just one hour before his scheduled euthanasia! It just goes to show shelter dogs deserve patience, kindness and a second chance at love.
Cover Image Source: TikTok | @madgarv
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