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Abandoned Dog & Broken-Hearted Tough Guy Rescue Each Other

Written by: Dina Fantegrossi
Dina Fantegrossi is the Assistant Editor and Head Writer for HomeLife Media. Before her career in writing, Dina was a veterinary technician for more than 15 years.Read more
| Published on December 17, 2016

Imgur user Humdrumdergifan (we’ll call him OP for “original poster” from here forward) was the very portrait of a tough Texas male until a special dog came into his life and allowed him to express his softer side.

When OP found out that a dog had been abandoned in an empty apartment when her owners were evicted, he immediately stepped up to adopt her. The pup had been alone without care for an entire week.

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Image Source: Humdrumdergifan via Imgur

 

According to OP’s Imgur account, the sweet little dog went undiscovered for so long because she was too timid and shy to even bark. When she was finally found, she was covered in urine and feces and dangerously dehydrated.

She spent the night and the following day at a local veterinary hospital receiving IV fluids and being slowly reintroduced to food. When she was well enough to be discharged, OP was there to pick her up. The adorable pair have been inseparable ever since.

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Image Source: Humdrumdergifan via Imgur

 

OP named his new gal pal Delores and began the slow, careful process of earning her trust. It seems that the little dog had no socialization outside of her former owner. She was not even taken out for walks – just let out on the apartment’s balcony for bathroom breaks. OP wrote on Imgur:

She has no concept of a leash or a collar. I bought her a red stretchy harness to help with leash training. She is scared, timid, nervous and shy. I’ve been showering her with affection, attention and love. She’s already gaining confidence, weight and is turning into a real character. She has to be touching me at all times. She is the sweetest and most gentle dog I’ve ever had.

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Image Source: Humdrumdergifan via Imgur

 

Delores’ former owner is currently in jail on assault charges, according to OP. She will also be facing animal cruelty charges for abandoning Delores without food or heat at a time when temperatures dropped below freezing.

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Image Source: Humdrumdergifan via Imgur

 

Despite his outrage towards the woman who mistreated Delores, OP has allowed the adorable little dog to bring out his gentle, optimistic side. He wrote:

I couldn’t have found her at a better time in my life. She is perfect for me. The past 14 weeks of my life have been worse than a complete disaster. I’ve lost everything except my job and nothing about who I am or my “regular self” is present. I am a different person with a dramatically different life. I lost my two dogs to my soon to be ex wife and my psyche has been a complete disaster not having a dog to take care of the last 10 weeks. I need this dog just as much as she needs me. So happy.

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Image Source: Humdrumdergifan via Imgur

 

It seems that Delores and OP were meant to be!

All Photos via Imgur/Humdrumdergifan

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