When a 4-month-old pup was brought to the Cuyahoga Country Animal Shelter in Ohio, USA, back in April 2016, he was in such poor health that he couldn’t even open his mouth to eat. Despite his condition, his spirits remained high; he wagged his tail constantly and was always ready to shower everyone with kisses.
Veterinarians conducted tests and determined that he had developed a serious infection from a dog bite, which had caused a deformity in his face. They prescribed him antibiotics in hopes of improving his condition.
Unfortunately, the treatments didn’t have the desired effect. Squish, as he came to be known, grew weaker as he struggled to eat properly. His condition deteriorated to the point where a decision was made to euthanize him, as it was deemed the most humane option to prevent further suffering.
Despite the grim outlook, the staff at the shelter couldn’t bear to give up on a pup who showed so much love and affection towards everyone.
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Shocking discovery through X-rays
Before deciding on euthanization, they opted to take him to a specialist for X-rays. To their surprise, the scans revealed something unexpected.
Initially, they thought the dog’s facial abnormalities were a result of an infection from a dog bite, but that wasn’t the case. It was discovered that he had suffered severe fractures to his skull and upper right jaw. The resulting scar tissue had hindered the growth of his jaw, making it hard for him to open his mouth.
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The only option left for Squish was to undergo a major surgery. Unfortunately, there was nobody willing to cover the costs, and no one interested in adopting him due to his poor health condition.
Bringing Squish home
As Squish’s situation seemed more and more hopeless, veterinarian Danielle Boyd completed her internship at the Cuyahoga County Animal Shelter and decided to take him home for the night. She wanted Squish to experience a night of comfort outside of a cage.
Upon arriving home, Squish transformed into a different dog altogether. Danielle marveled at how a pup that had suffered so much could still trust humans, yet there he was… putting his trust in her.
Squish drifted off to sleep in Danielle’s arms, and when they woke up the next morning, she knew she couldn’t bear to see him put to sleep.
And it wasn’t just Danielle who was won over by Squish’s endearing nature. Eileen Heldmann, the vet who had first evaluated him, also felt a strong urge to save him. The following day, she performed the much-needed surgery on Squish.
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A successful procedure
The surgery was a total success, allowing Squish to enjoy his meals once more. A tooth, an eye, and part of Squish’s jaw were removed, but in the end, they had a delighted pup.
“I couldn’t help but tear up watching him happily grab a tennis ball for the first time. That was just the start of his small triumphs,” shared Danielle with The Dodo.
Social media platform Instagram was where their paths crossed, and destiny played a key role in bringing them together. He enjoys engaging in playful activities, gathering balls, and snuggling up with Danielle, whom he adores.
On Instagram, it was revealed that Danielle had recently experienced the loss of her beloved dog before crossing paths with Squish just two days later. Some may see this as fate intervening to create a special bond between them as they both found the companionship they needed in each other.
I’m ecstatic that Squish’s journey concluded with such a positive outcome. Every kind-hearted being deserves a fresh start, and it’s truly heartwarming to see Squish finding a safe and caring forever home. Spread the joy by sharing this story on your Facebook page if you’re as thrilled as I am about Squish’s happy ending!
