Senior Dog Who's Called A "Burden" Narrowly Avoids Euthanasia And Finally Finds A Loving Family
Apr 23, 2019 by apost team
Coco the dog's days were numbered. The 12-year-old pit bull's owner wanted her euthanized. Coco had a knack for escaping her yard, and her owner was tired of bailing her out of the local animal shelter. He called the sweet dog a burden and made an appointment to have her put down. Fortunately for Coco, LifeLine Animal Project‘s Fulton County shelter wasn't about to let that happen.
Coco is a friendly senior dog with an adorable underbite. She enjoys chew toys, belly rubs and, much to her former owner's dismay, exploring her neighborhood without a human companion. Coco found herself at the Fulton County animal shelter six times in 12 months for escaping her yard.
After Coco's sixth offense, her owner decided he'd had enough. He told the shelter he wanted her euthanized. If they wouldn't do it, his vet would. The staff begged Coco's owner to let them find her a home, but he refused.
The broken-hearted staff wanted to make the most of Coco's final days. They went on walks and showered her with affection. Coco experienced love and kindness for the first time in her life. The staff realized she wasn't just a good dog; she was the best dog.
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Maybe Coco's owner had a change of heart, or maybe he didn't want to pay Coco's final expenses. Either way, he never returned to the shelter to have the dog euthanized. The LifeLine Animal Project‘s surrender counselor set out to find Coco a forever home, but it would prove to be more difficult than expected.
A veterinarian exam revealed Coco was suffering from a collapsed trachea. Most of her teeth were missing, and she'd been shot with a pellet gun at some point in her life. Finding a home for a senior dog is hard; finding a home for a senior dog with a medical condition is nearly impossible.
The LifeLine Animal Project would not give up on Coco. The sweet girl had gone through so much, and she deserved a happy ending. Luckily, six months ago, Coco found her forever home.
Eric and Alicia McIntyre have experience caring for senior animals, and they thought Coco would be the perfect addition to their family. The McIntyres took Coco to the pet store for the very first time to pick out a new toy. She chose a chicken-duck hybrid named Chuck. Chuck goes everywhere with Coco.
Coco has turned into a lapdog. She loves cuddling with the McIntyres and their grandchildren. Coco even joined the McIntyres on a family vacation to St. Augustine Beach, Florida. The McIntyres were worried that walking in the sand would be rough on the senior dog's joints, so they pulled her around in a wagon. Coco wore sunglasses to protect her eyes from the sun's harsh glare.
She spent most of her vacation lounging in a tent and enjoying the company of her loving family.
Coco is living her best life, and you can keep up with her adventures on Instagram. Senior dogs deserve love too. You can find senior dogs looking for a forever home on Petfinder. If you can't adopt a dog right now, consider donating to the LifeLine Animal Project. The LifeLine Animal Project is working to make Atlanta a no-kill community.
We'd love to see pictures of your rescue pets! Show them to us in the comments and help us spread the word about Coco's incredible story by passing this story along to your friends and family today!