When animal shelters become overcrowded with canines who have not found homes for an extended period, regrettably, they are compelled to euthanize them.
The canine featured in today’s narrative, Ben, was among those unfortunate dogs.
It was determined that if he was not adopted by the close of business that day, he would be scheduled for euthanasia over the weekend.
Rescue Mission
However, when a compassionate woman named Lauren learned of this distressing situation, she refused to allow it to occur.
“You could see it in his eyes, he was so terrified and so mistrustful,” Lauren expressed.
Recognizing that this dog merited another opportunity for happiness, Lauren chose to become his foster mother and welcome him into her home.
Upon arriving at his new residence, Ben was obviously anxious and required time to acclimate to his new surroundings and humans.
Fortunately, Lauren already had two dogs, Jojo and Hankey, who instinctively knew how to assist him.
New Life
They instantly perceived that Ben required emotional support, so they rested close to him, reassuring him that they were there for assistance.
This evolved into a daily ritual. Every morning, Lauren and her dogs provided company to Ben, with the hope that he would gradually start to accept them.
Sadly, this task was not simple. Ben refused to eat anything for the initial three days, making the usual “gaining trust with food” technique ineffective.
Nonetheless, Lauren remained undeterred. She continued providing him with food daily, optimistic that Ben would eventually yield.
And, eventually, he did!
When Lauren offered him food in her hand, Ben stretched out and took some. This was an encouraging indication.
Lauren preferred to avoid putting extra pressure on Ben, so she allowed him to navigate things at his own pace, trusting he would comprehend that he was in a secure environment with individuals who cared for him.
After some time passed, Ben began to lean in on his own, soliciting pets and cuddles.
Now, his preferred way of cuddling is having his ears scratched.
It got to the stage where if I ceased, he would indicate that he was still wanting more affection. He would gently place his adorable little paw on me.
Lauren found it so endearing that in due course, they began to refer to it as a ‘Blessing’. Whenever Ben raised his paw and touched either the other dogs or humans, he was, in fact, blessing them.
After spending a while in this nurturing environment, Ben started resembling a completely transformed dog.
He became playful and brimming with energy, which he relished pursuing by running around with his furry companions.
Forever Home
Now truly embracing his authentic self, Lauren commenced the search for a forever home for Ben that would provide him with all the affection he truly deserves.
And, naturally, being such a remarkable dog, he found his ideal human in no time.
Upon their first encounter, Ben was timid and reserved initially, struggling to reveal his genuine character.
Yet, when he noticed how wonderful his new human was, Ben began to relax and genuinely started to relish the moment.
Today, Ben enjoys a fantastic life filled with abundant love, attention, and, of course, his Blessings!
Well done, Ben!