All dogs dream of living in a cozy home surrounded by a caring family. Sadly, not every dog has the privilege of experiencing such love.
Many of these vulnerable animals struggle to survive on the streets or, if they’re fortunate, find refuge in a pet-friendly shelter.
Tragically, some dogs face the harshest realities early in life, as many shelters lack the capacity to care for the numerous animals they take in.
Consequently, these animals, primarily dogs, become mere statistics on a lengthy euthanasia list. Such was the grim fate awaiting one unfortunate dog in Oklahoma City, who had been overlooked by everyone.
He Was “Shut Down”
Being a Bulldog isn’t an easy journey. A one-year-old English Bulldog mix named Grimm understands this all too well.
Regrettably, this young dog never experienced genuine love and joy. At just one year old, he found himself at Oklahoma City Animal Welfare, an animal shelter in Oklahoma.
Initially, he was shy and withdrawn, prompting staff to label him as “timid, shut down, and avoidant.”
This resulted in Grimm being overlooked by potential adopters while the shelter continued to fill up with new dogs. In the unforgiving environment of such shelters, he was placed on the euthanasia list merely five days later, an attempt to make room for more animals.
It seemed inevitable that this poor dog, abandoned by all, would pass away alone, as if he had never existed.
He Suddenly Blossomed
Just as plans for Grimm’s euthanasia were solidified, a remarkable turn of events occurred. A compassionate foster family intervened at the eleventh hour and chose to give this dog a chance.
They couldn’t comprehend why a dog, still “just a baby”, deserved such a fate. Therefore, they took him in as a foster for as long as needed.
They had no idea how much joy their selfless action would bring to Grimm. He flourished like a radiant flower.
“Once we got him home and he realized he was safe – he turned into a completely different dog,” @salvage.souls shared in the TikTok video showcasing Grimm’s transformation from a “shut down” dog to a cheerful English Bulldog mix puppy.
In the featured video, this TikTok user also highlighted that dogs should not be evaluated based on their behavior in shelters because even the most vibrant animals can succumb to depression in such cold and intimidating environments.
Ultimately, she noted that “Grimm is ONLY alive today because someone said YES to fostering him.” That pivotal “YES” transformed his life and has brought a lasting smile to his face.
We look forward to the day when his smile grows even wider upon finding his forever home.
