Unfortunately, dozens of homeless dogs and cats are put on a euthanasia list when they’re diagnosed with a disease that is too costly for the shelters to treat.
Gregory, an adorable two-year-old Beagle, was brought into the Franklin County Dog Shelter in Columbus as a stray dog. After a while, they found out that he was positive for heartworm. They declared the energetic four-footer healthy at first but discovered his tragic condition shortly after he was brought in.
Because of the heartworm, Gregory was scheduled to be put down.
However, animal lover Joe Kirk was able to come across Gregory just in time and give him a second chance at life.
The man owns an animal rescue organization along with his wife Schenley, and regularly checks the local shelters to see if there are any animals that they could help and rescue.
When Joe laid eyes on Gregory online, he immediately knew what to do.
The man drove for two hours to the shelter where the cute Beagle was being held. He just wanted to see little Gregory in person to take him home and treat his condition. The man told TODAY that it was as if the two “had known each other for years.”
In fact, the two bonded so well and so quickly that Joe allowed the pup to sit in the backseat of the car instead of in a crate.
“When we transport dogs, we usually transport them within a crate,” Joe’s wife Schenley told, “but Joe chose to tether Gregory in the back seat instead because he felt like the animal had been caged up for too long.
When Joe was in front of a red light, he thought it was a perfect opportunity to take out his smartphone and snap a few pictures of himself and his new best friend. He shared them with his wife, who was funnily wondering why the pup was sitting in the back seat.
“My husband knows better than to be taking pictures when driving,” Schenley told. “When my husband sent me these pictures my first reaction was, ‘Honey, why isn’t he in a crate?’”
The woman then also posted a sweet photo of her husband and Gregory on her Facebook page, which shows the pup giving his rescuer a nice, warm and affectionate snuggle.
It’s just way too adorable, and the post quickly went viral.
“Gregory is one thankful and appreciative Beagle! He KNOWS he is SAFE! He is heartworm positive and will be going through treatment, but he knows he is in good hands! We will get him healthy and provide him all the love he so deserves and a wonderful future!! What a great photo of Gregory and my husband Joe on their way home from the shelter! This is what makes it all worthwhile!” she wrote.
Gregory has been cuddling his new owner almost the entire trip back home, and the pup has been settling in just fine.
“He is a very well-behaved little boy. He is very loving, very affectionate,” they said. “He loves to be next to you. He loves to give kisses.”
Because the stunning photograph of Gregory cuddling went viral, it didn’t take long before a family was interested in adopting the pup. It’ll take approximately two months before the Beagle is fully medically cleared, and he’ll be able to meet his potential new owners then.
“That is why we do what we do. That is what makes it all worthwhile, knowing that we are able to save the lives of these dogs in need,” Schenley said. “And their appreciation and the love they give back is amazing. There’s nothing better.”
What a beautiful and sweet rescue story!
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