Rescue work is never easy and you’d think we’d learn to stop being surprised by the condition we find dogs in but the horror and heartbreak persists. It’s often the owner surrenders that we actually struggle with the most because these dogs came from a home where they are supposed to be loved unconditionally and they are treated with anything but.
When Vince was surrendered to the shelter, he was was emaciated and terrified. His owner said he had fallen on hard times and
couldn’t afford to take care of his dogs anymore, so he was “getting rid of some of them”. His intake exam said he was extremely underweight due to inadequate nutrition which is really just a nice way of saying he was starving. Vince was only 40 pounds and nothing but ribs when he was tossed away like he didn’t matter.
Upon arriving at Swamp Haven he cowered and gator crawled everywhere, his tail was so tucked that it looked like he didn’t have one, and he hesitated to look up or make eye contact with us. We try not to make things up about pasts we know nothing about, but Vince certainly acts as though he experienced abuse from his so called family
But at the first sign of any gentle or positive affection, that tail starts wagging and he crawls right into your lap and looks at you like you’re the best thing he’s ever seen.
Vince is roughly 3 years old and now weighs in at his ideal weight of 60 pounds. His goofy personality continues to shine through his moments of insecurity and we are so in love with the silly boy he’s becoming. He is sweet as can be and doesn’t hold a grudge towards people despite his traumatic past. We truly don’t deserve dogs
Vince does well with one on one play with his doggy friends, but group play tends to be too much for his sensitive nature right now. We’d love to get him in a foster or adoptive home so his confidence can continue to grow, to realize that his next meal won’t be his last, and that he doesn’t have to wonder or fear ever being mistreated or malnourished again.
Contact us at 904-392-3416 if you’d like to help change Vince’s world and show him just how much he matters
June 30, 2024, 11:40 am
