The number of dogs destined for euthanasia due to treatable diseases is shocking. Many of them are unable to see how wonderful life is due to the lack of infrastructure in some orphanages.
This is exactly what happened to Forrest. A 10-pound terrier was at risk of euthanasia due to “worrying behavior.”
The Texas dog was just hours away from sleeping forever, but brave rescuers arrived and decided that today wasn’t the day Forrest would cross the Rainbow Bridge.
I’m scared, I’m calm, I’m still.
Forrest, 3 or 4 years old, was rescued from a terrible hoarding situation.
He was abused throughout his life and suffered from severe anxiety disorders due to it. He didn’t get along well with people or other dogs and never knew how to behave properly.
“The small dog’s trauma was so pronounced, that the rescue group that first took him in thought euthanasia might be the best option,” the APA team wrote on Facebook.
Congratulations to the rescue team that has Austin’s pet alive! They rescued him after he had already been rescued from another shelter. But because of Forrest’s explosive behavior, rescuers felt euthanasia was the “best option” for the boy.
Fortunately, Forrest was rescued in time and safely transported to an APA facility, where the healing process began.
For the first few weeks he was completely isolated, silent and immobile. He was literally afraid to move and was too scared to let anyone near him.
Since he is such a small dog, he faced so much uncertainty. The night in the kennel definitely took a toll on him and he needed a special care plan to start trusting people again.
Amazing Transformation
The APA team did everything they could to help Forrest unload. A whole team of experts was involved in the healing process, and from the first month this little fighter showed the first signs of progress.
He slowly started coming out of his shell and started wagging his tail for the first time in his life. This was a big step for Forest considering the severity of the injury.
Little by little he started interacting with people and other dogs and finally realized that life is really sweet. Forrest began to trust again and he began to feel very comfortable with his new friends.
The high point of his recovery came in November 2023, when the most amazing thing happened. After months of continued care and training, one wonderful family contacted Forrest to learn more.
He was ready to move into his forever home, and now he’s finally found it! This little boy now has the perfect home to keep his entire family to himself.
“This little dog will never have to look back on his darker days,” his rescuers wrote.
Forrest, now known as Zephyr, is no longer afraid of people and is definitely enjoying everything that is happening in his new life. He also has brothers and sisters to play with and have exciting adventures with.
Once a scared puppy facing the worst possible outcomes, Zephyr is now a brand new puppy ready to start life with his heart and legs wide open.
