Over 40 dogs were rescued by the Houston Humane Society from a terrible hoarding situation where they lived in a dilapidated trailer surrounded by filth and trash. Among them was a senior Chihuahua named Toothless.
Given the horrific living conditions, it is no surprise that Toothless was quite feral and distrustful. However, everything changed when a compassionate woman decided to adopt him.
Toothless’ Story
According to Madeleine Cantrell (Toothless’ mom), this little dog was incredibly distrusting at the time of his rescue, indicating that he and the other dogs had very little human interaction throughout their lives. The conditions they endured were appalling, with the trailer filled with feces and trash, forcing them to compete for scarce food.
Upon his arrival at the Houston shelter, Toothless continued to growl and bark, even attempting to bite those trying to handle him. Having collaborated with the shelter for some time, Madeleine felt compelled to help after hearing their heart-wrenching story.
“My coworker and I opened the kennel and we had a towel, so we placed it on him and he just froze. We discovered that he wasn’t really reacting out of aggression. It was more [out of] fear. He was very confused because he’s only known living in trash and disheveled furniture for his whole life,” Madeleine told GeoBeats Animals.
He simply didn’t know how to interact with humans; he was just afraid. Yet, despite this unsettling first impression, Madeleine wanted to foster him and provide this deserving dog a second chance. They found him riddled with fleas and toothless, which inspired his new name.
From ‘Feral’ to Loving
After bringing Toothless home, everything began to change. Initially, he ran from her in fear and attempted to gum her a few times, but by the next morning, he was an entirely different dog. When she held him for the first time, it was clear that he had never experienced love before.
“The next day though, he was a completely different dog. I brought him to work with me again, and he was pawing at my legs because he wanted to be held,” Madeleine recalled.
It seemed that in less than 24 hours, Toothless’s heart began to soften, and he recognized the comfort of being loved. A few days later, Madeleine officially adopted him, and they have been inseparable ever since.
“He is one of the sweetest little dogs I’ve ever had, even though he may only let his guard down for me. Toothless has fallen in love with my other dog, Sunshine, and he loves to play with her and snuggle by her. I have honestly never been a chihuahua person before this, but he has made me have a soft spot for them,” Madeleine shared in an Instagram post.
Today, Toothless enjoys a fulfilling life, being utterly devoted to his mom. Although he is currently receiving treatment for heartworm and they remain uncertain about the state of his eyes, he is otherwise a happy and healthy senior dog.
“People often overlook dogs like him. I believe they are incredibly grateful to their adoptive families, offering you the best love you’ll ever know,” Madeleine concluded.
Toothless’ journey serves as a vital reminder of the importance of rescuing dogs and providing them with second chances, which can truly change their lives forever.
