Saying goodbye to our furry companions should never be an option, yet some dog owners still choose to abandon their loyal pooches in the cruelest ways imaginable.
This was the harsh reality for one 4-month-old puppy who was found clinging to an abandoned recliner along a deserted road in Mississippi.
Waiting For His Family To Return
When Animal Control Officer Sharon Norton arrived at the scene, she couldn’t believe her eyes. The frail pup was sitting in the dumped recliner, barely alive after days without food.
Despite his desperate situation, the puppy refused to leave the chair. He kept sitting there, hoping his owners would return for him.
To the person that dumped this chair, your puppy was waiting for you to come back, slowly starving to death because it was afraid to leave the chair to find food,
Norton said
After much coaxing, Norton finally managed to gain the puppy’s trust and brought him to the Brookhaven Animal Rescue League for treatment.
They named him La-Z-Boy Gatson, after the recliner and the road where he was found.
Slowly Learning To Trust Again
At the shelter, Gatson received medical care for ringworm and malnutrition. Slowly, he started coming out of his shell and revealing his friendly, playful personality.
He was very happy when I picked him up and carried him to the animal control truck. I could feel his tail hitting my back, wagging. He knows he’s safe now,
Norton wrote
Gatson especially enjoyed splashing around in the water and napping, living up to his name. After weeks of TLC, he was finally ready to find his forever home.
A Happy New Beginning
Gatson’s story went viral and caught the attention of a couple in Michigan. Dave Trammell and Sommer Guy were so moved that they drove over 15 hours to meet him.
It was love at first sight, and they knew Gatson was meant to be part of their family.
Within days of his adoption, Gatson was thriving in his new home, snuggling with his humans and playing with his doggy sister.
I think he just wanted to have a home. You could tell he was really appreciative when we got here,
Trammell said
From being callously dumped on the side of the road to finding his perfect forever home, Gatson’s story is a testament to the resilience of dogs and the power of second chances.
May all abandoned dogs find the loving families they deserve.