Rescuing a pet can be one of the most heart fulfilling moments of our lifetimes when we are searching for a new furry friend to add to our family. However, sometimes their stories can be some of the most heart-wrenching things we’ve heard in our lifetimes.
This makes the bond between owner and pet so much stronger. For some of our furry friends, they were born and left somewhere, or they spent a few months or even up to a year malnourished on the side of the road, but one story has recently gone viral about a dog who spent years trying to survive every day in a shed.
One senior dog was rescued after surviving nearly 14 years in a shed.
In October of 2020, an Ohio based rescue group called the Grateful Hearts Senior Dog Rescue & Sanctuary posted a tragic story on their Facebook when they rescued a dog at the age of 14-years-old who’d been living his entire life in a shed.
The rescue is dedicated to rescuing senior dogs with hopes of giving them a second chance of life when no one else will.
The Grateful Hearts Senior Dog Rescue & Sanctuary is a small nonprofit rescue dedicated to saving senior dogs who are near death and hope to give them a second chance.
These volunteers have been saving senior dogs from euthanasia at high kill shelters not only in Ohio, but all over the country as well. The rescue operates from their own funding as well as donations.
One of the dogs receiving the loving benefits that the rescue provides is Cayden, who has spent his whole life trapped in a shed.
They explain on their Facebook post,
“Cayden spent his life in a shed. Yep, that’s right…this 14 ish year old dog lived alone in a shed. His teeth stick out the sides of his mouth, both sides, in un-natural positions. And you can smell the infection in his mouth. His ears…omg, I have never seen ears as bad as his. For real, one is so swollen and infected I honestly don’t know how he has survived…..his….years….in….a…..shed. He is pretty much blind if not totally….and 99% deaf.”
Since Cayden has spent years fighting for his life in a shed, it has taken a toll on his health and body. They explain his teeth are crooked, stick out on all different sides of his mouth, and the smell of infection is prominent. He is also nearly fully blind and deaf, and extremely malnourished.
For some rescue dogs, we never find out the story of what they’ve survived, however, with Cayden the owner actually admitted it.
In the original post, they continue to write that they actually found out about Cayden’s history because the owner had actually called about him, after his legal hold had expired while on his way to the rescue, and admitted it. They continue,
“He has grabbed the hearts of all involved in his rescue so already, this dog has so much love in less than a day…more than his entire prior 14 years in a shed. He eats like he hasn’t had a meal for weeks and that statement is likely truer than you think. Very skinny and nothing but fur and bones.
Tomorrow starts his new life-saying it now, I wish we’d found you years ago.”
With his skin rotting away and a full-body wreaking of infection, the volunteers refused to give up on Cayden.
Though Cayden was wreaking of infection and his skin was rotting away, this rescue was going to give him their all.
Day after day these volunteers spent bathing, gently cleaning, praying, and trying to show this dog all the love in the world that was so deserved for years.
Although Cayden is extremely ill from years of mistreatment the volunteers still have hope for him.
Since the volunteers have rescued Cayden there have been endless surgeries, baths, and lots of tender love and care given with hopes of healing this sweet boy.
Since his rescue, he has had 21 teeth out, both ears are slowly healing, and he is receiving the love deserved for over a decade.
With so much love and questions coming in for Cayden, the volunteers have since started a new Facebook page.
Since there’s been so much outpouring support and questions about keeping up to date with what is going on with Cayden the volunteers have since started a Facebook page just for him called Cayden, Touching Hearts Everywhere. They write in a post-updated about two weeks ago,
“His life now begins. At 12, 14, 16 years old…it’s anyone’s guess. This dog has suffered horribly. But his grace, his capacity to forgive, his courage, his gentle nature, has captured hearts everywhere.
Cayden has a long road of several surgeries and intense medical care to ensure a good quality of life. He will most likely remain in the rescue for life due to his age and medical issues. The transporters who brought him to us, both fell in love with him. This was their first rescue experience and it had a profound effect on both of them. We are guessing one of them will end up being his forever person with the rescue covering all his needs for life.
All his updates, photos of his life, fundraisers we may hold for him, will be on this page. We want to share his comeback story with everyone, and we’re also counting on your prayers and positivity, to help him on his new journey.”
Another story of a rescue that simply breaks the heart but provides a sliver of hope because of how impactful love can be.
Not only are these volunteers showing this dog love and care but in return, this dog is showing them the courage it takes to forgive and fight for another chance to live and breathe- even if it’s for just one more day.
To keep up to date with Grateful Hearts Senior Dog Rescue and Sanctuary and Cayden click the links below.
Grateful Hearts Senior Dog Rescue & Sanctuary
Cayden, Touching Hearts Everywhere
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