It is widely acknowledged that animal shelters are not the most comfortable environments for dogs. Sadly, many find themselves there, often staying for extended periods. This is particularly true for older dogs, as they tend to attract less interest compared to their younger counterparts.
Puppies are typically the first to be adopted, which is exactly what the staff at Forgotten, Now Family Rescue in Charlotte, North Carolina, hoped when a puppy named DeVito arrived at their facility.
Regrettably, the situation turned out to be very different, and DeVito faced a more challenging fate than anyone anticipated.
A Heartbreaking Situation
According to a post on Instagram by Forgotten, Now Family Rescue, DeVito’s intake request was made via social media by a breeder who noted that this puppy was different from his littermates.
“He exhibited weakness and his tongue was turning purple, among other symptoms,” they mentioned in their post.
Initially, many at the shelter believed it was nothing serious and anticipated that he would recover. However, Chrissy Elder, the owner of Forgotten, Now Family Rescue, had a different perspective.
Being experienced, she sensed that DeVito was in significant distress, leading her to seek immediate medical attention for him. Unfortunately, the test results yielded only grim news.
“He has severe S.A.S. Subvalvular aortic stenosis and multiple structural heart defects, leading to many complex blood flow issues,” it stated in the post. “He is also suffering from grade 4 heart failure.”
To make matters worse, the condition was inoperable, and the doctors predicted that he had no more than six months to live. Elder was heartbroken, particularly since she herself was a heart patient.
Yet, she was determined not to give up on this precious little soul.
From Sadness to Joyful Tears
The fact that Elder invested $3,500 in medications to keep DeVito alive for those remaining months showcases the depth of her compassion.
“While it wasn’t within our budget, I truly believe this baby deserves a hospice journey, and I am committed to providing him with the best one possible,” she shared in the post.
Despite the sorrow she felt regarding DeVito’s fate, the small victories he achieved brought her immense joy and even brought tears of happiness to her eyes. Notably, he responded well to his medications, and his condition showed signs of improvement.
However, what filled her with true elation was the profound bond DeVito formed with her special-needs son, Bo. Their connection was instantaneous, and from that first meeting on, they became inseparable.
Instead of sorrow, their relationship brought forth pure joy, as Bo finally found a companion who loved him unconditionally, and DeVito found someone to share his remaining days filled with happiness.
Now, Elder was confident that DeVito would cross the rainbow bridge with a smile, leaving behind a family that would forever cherish him in their hearts.
Ultimately, that is what matters the most.
