An animal rescuer named Alaina from Friends of the Alameda Animal Shelter California found a beer box with two ears sticking out of it. She recognized it was a female German Shepherd puppy and hurriedly brought it to the shelter and giving her the name ‘Starfish.’
One of the employees, Steven, decided she needs to be euthanized because of her malformed limbs and organs. On the other hand, John, the shelter’s Executive Director, walked in the room and saw Starfish. He said that he saw the dog’s eagerness to live, so he disagreed with Steven’s opinion and sought a second opinion.
The pup was later diagnosed with Swimmer’s Puppy Syndrome. It is a curable deformity that rarely occurs to dogs and cats who are in their first to three weeks old, making them unable to walk or stand on all fours. The rescue team decided to register the pup for foster care.
It was only in a nick of time when Maggie, a girl who signed up for Starfish’s foster care took her in for two days as agreed. They both instantly had a connection and bonded close. The idea of adopting Starfish struck her, and she quickly informed her parents. Her parents were undecided on whether to continue to foster Starfish at that time, and Maggie became upset. She ran out of the house, took Starfish with her; leaving a letter telling her mom that she wanted to run away with Starfish because she did not want the puppy to leave.
An hour later, she came back with Starfish and the whole family finally decided that they’re keeping her. This lovely German Shepherd underwent a series of therapies from physical to water then finally obstacle course training. Everyone was amazed at Starfish’s fighting spirit to continue with life and embrace tougher obstacles – from her first standing up on all fours (with a cloth underneath her torso), crawling across the yard to going down the stairs.
It was a year later that Starfish could finally run around, jump and socialize with several of their pets and the family’s other friends. This family and the continuous support they gave for the puppy until it was able to get better was truly admirable.
Starfish sure has stronger willpower to go through life and get the love of a family she truly deserves. Honestly, this is what most of us humans sometimes lack – the willpower to overcome obstacles and to think things through before settling to the worst decisions. For any pet owners out there, it is essential always to believe that everyone has a fighting chance for survival and if they want to live, give them all the help they can get.
Source: The Dodo via YouTube
