A dog adopted from a shelter 14 years ago has been found living as a stray in a distressing state of health.
Life wasn’t supposed to be like this for Coral. When she was adopted as a puppy, it was assumed she would be heading off to a new life with a loving family and forever home.
That is all anyone ever wants for a shelter pup. Unfortunately, the sad reality is that it doesn’t always work out that way. Last week, True & Faithful Pet Rescue Mission (TFPRM), a Florida-based nonprofit focused on rescuing seniors and dogs in high-kill shelters, was contacted about Coral.
“Coral was found wandering the streets of Miami in absolutely heartbreaking condition,” a TFPRM spokesperson told Newsweek. “Her tiny body was weak, her mouth was severely rotted and bleeding, and her skin was ulcerated and infected. She was suffering in ways no dog ever should.”
How Coral ended up alone on the streets is unclear. But no one came looking for her. No one was asking about her at any of the shelters in the local area. It felt like she had simply been discarded and forgotten.
That’s when TFPRM stepped in. “We brought Coral to safety, got her the medical care she desperately needed, and gave her the love she should have had all along,” the spokesperson said. “Her mouth has been treated, her skin is healing, and her spirit is shining brighter every day. Despite everything she went through, Coral is gentle, loving, and so grateful to be safe.”
Eager to shine a light on Coral’s situation and incredible recovery after enduring so much, TFPRM shared a clip of the senior pup to its Instagram. The rescue did so with a simple message: older canines need love, too. “Senior dogs like Coral don’t end up in this condition overnight,” the TFPRM spokesperson said. “They end up this way when the world gives up on them. We never will.”
TFPRM has always championed caring for senior dogs. The odds are often stacked heavily against older shelter canines getting another chance at a happy life in a forever home. The ASPCA charity says senior dogs have a 25 percent adoption rate. This is considerably lower than the 60 percent adoption rate among younger canines and puppies.
Social Media Reactions
The Instagram post shining a light on Coral’s situation got a huge response, with users taking to the comments to share stories and celebrate their personal experiences with caring for senior dogs.
One wrote: “My first pup as an adult was adopted from a senior dog rescue. The moment I saw him, I knew he needed someone to belong to, and I wanted to be his mama. Nearly 5yrs we had together, and I miss him every day.”
Another said: “The GREATEST HONOUR I have experienced in my life was providing care and comfort to my senior dogs. Anyone who doesn’t see the value in caring for a pet forever has never truly connected with that pet.”
Coral is continuing to recover from what she has been through, but TFPRM are determined to make sure her story has a happy ending. Writing alongside the video on Instagram, the shelter said: “We still believe Coral’s forever home is out there somewhere. Even if the odds say she may never find one, we believe that with the power of people like you watching and sharing her story, anything is possible. Sometimes all it takes is the right person seeing the right post at the right time.”
If you think you might be that person, please get in touch.
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