A poor dog named Phoenix was found in bad condition. When he was brought to the animal shelter, he was terrified of everything and everyone.
Phoenix was found tied up against a tree, with blisters and wounds everywhere.
In fact, his condition was so severe that first responders thought Phoenix wouldnโt have a life worth living anymore. He was then placed on a euthanasia list, but luckily, it didnโt have to come that far.
A local rescue group, Litters โn Critters Rescue Society from Halifax, Nova Scotia, decided that they would do everything in their power to give Phoenix a second chance.
A fighting chance โ because thatโs the least this poor pup deserved. Even though they were very determined, they were also very realistic about his chances.
โHe was in really, really bad shape,โ founder of the rescue organization Shelley Cunningham said to The Dodo. โHe was very withdrawn and sad.โ
The rescue group then brought Phoenix to a veterinarian, and he was deemed well enough to move in with a foster family.
Lori Teale and her husband were more than happy to take Phoenix in until he was ready to be put up for adoption, and they were already familiar with the good work that this rescue organization does.
Earlier, the couple adopted pup Echo from the Litters โn Critters, and they figured that Echo could use a playing buddy for a while.
Phoenix was extremely scared of his new environment, probably because of the things heโs already been through with his previous owner.
The poor pup was afraid of almost everything, such as passing animals or sudden movements.
โHe was terrified of everything when we first brought him home,โ Lori recalls. โLoud noises would cause him to shake uncontrollably, or he would shut down completely. Even the smallest things would scare him โ curtains moving, a cat passing him or something he didnโt notice was suddenly in view. Phoenix was terrified of sudden movements or if you raise your hands with him near or even slightly raised your voice. He would shut down immediately and pancake to the floor.โ
However, Phoenix quickly became better thanks to his new friend Echo. It turns out that the duo of Echo and Phoenix was a match made in heaven. These two furry friends got along so well that Phoenixโs fear started to fade away.
When Lori and her spouse noticed their special bond, they decided to adopt Phoenix as well and make it permanent.
โThe initial meeting could not have gone any better,โ Lori told. โWithin the first 24 hours, they were following each other and we knew we couldnโt separate them.โ
Slowly, but surely, Phoenix started to have a positive look at things again.
He was more energetic, seemed to enjoy the small things much more, and was always excited to hang around with Echo.
โI believe it was the confidence of Echo that really helped him settle down and get comfortable,โ Lori said. โI give her all the credit, honestly.โ
The difference between Phoenix at the shelter and Phoenix now couldnโt be any bigger.
No longer is Phoenix that scared pup, who doesnโt want to come near humans, but heโs just an affectionate four-footer who enjoys all of the attention he receives.
Just like most other pups, he also likes to snuggle with his human friends too!
Thatโs definitely something that Lori and her husband were a bit afraid of at first because they were worried that Phoenix wouldnโt bond with either of them. Luckily, those concerns werenโt valid and Phoenix is an integral and unmissable part of the family.
โI will never regret adopting him,โ she concluded. โHeโs made our home feel complete and brought so much laughter into our house.โ
Itโs wonderful what a little love and care can do for even the most frightened dogs. Phoenix needed someone who would give him the patience and space he needed to grow, and thankfully, he found the right forever home.
If you want to learn more about Phoenix, check out the video below!
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