It’s heartbreaking to even write about what happened to Tig in the first months of his life – and it’s hard to believe someone would treat a puppy so badly.
But Tig was found starved and abandoned, laying alone in a gutter in Washington D.C. He had been dumped there to die.
“On first sight, you wouldn’t even have thought he was still living,” said Chris Schindler, the man who came to his rescue after someone saw the little pile of fur and bones and called for help.
He was shocked that they even got there in time to save his life.
Schindler said the puppy likely had minutes to live. After all, no one knows how long he was laying there close to death, just watching the world ignore his suffering.
They rushed him to the emergency animal hospital where he weighed in at a mere 13 pounds.
That’s about 20-30 pounds underweight! He had gone hungry for weeks.
Tig was found so malnourished that he couldn’t even stand up – his paws just didn’t have the strength to hold up his bony body.
But his indomitable spirit was obvious in his pleading eyes. He had survived this far and it appeared that he hadn’t given up.
So after three days of intensive treatment, Tig went home with an experienced foster named Kim to get the close attention he needed to try and recover.
But the first 24 hours were tough – his foster mom said that he barely moved and his ears and tail both drooped in weakness. He was “just a really sad looking puppy.”
Luckily, things got better! Tig was getting the encouragement and nourishment he needed, and he was now lifting up his head and wagging his tail. He wanted love and affection. He’d just probably never felt it before. Yet somehow he knew it was there for the taking now.
It was clear that he was going to try to live.
By the end of the first week at his foster home, he could stand on those 4 paws and even walk a little bit on his own.
But his bony body still showed the weeks or months of sheer neglect and starvation.
In week 2, he was playing! And he had a Rottweiler brother to show him the ropes – and who he was eager to hang out with.
And then in week 3, he could take some longer walks! Look at him holding that leash in his mouth like “no, mom, I can do it!”
What a sweet boy!
Soon, he was keeping up with Kim’s Rottweiler, asking for snacks – and after a while, he was no longer a sickly puppy.
He was a regular puppy – with all the energy you might expect!
“He’s just the perfect example of the puppy that wants to live,” Kim said with pride.
Here’s a photo of him when he went home with Kim after his time in the hospital and just a few months ago after some time spent in his fur-ever home:
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I don’t know if you’re crying, but someone is definitely cutting onions around here.
Tig’s transformation has us all at once furious that someone would try to steal the life and spirit of such a sweet animal and joyfully relieved that he was lucky enough to become that bouncy dog he was meant to be.
He could have been scarred for life by his experience and nearly dying in that gutter, but he chose to accept the love and care that was around him and his transformation was both physical and emotional.
Now, it was time for Tig to find a forever home. And this is where we give fosters all the credit in the world. They turn cats and dogs into pets and ride with them through an unimaginable (for the rest of us) emotional journey. But since they’re so good at it, keeping every pet would mean they wouldn’t be able to go it for other animals.
“People that do this kinda stuff need like a premium heaven,” said one commenter.
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Kim approached a possible new mom for Tig named Megan who went to the tattoo shop she worked for. And when she brought the healthy, bouncy puppy into the shop one day it was love at first sight.
Megan brought him home where Tig immediately claimed all the furniture and “fit in so well.” The excitement he showed when he got to his forever home made it obvious that he knew that this was his place in the world – and he was so happy to be there.
Now Tig has two brothers that he loves playing with (thanks to being socialized with his Rottweiler pal!).
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When they’re not busy napping, Tig chases them around the house without any hint that he once couldn’t stand on his own four paws.
“His ability to love – I think that’s the most admirable thing about him because he was treated so poorly, but yet all he wants to give is love,” said Megan.
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Want to see more of this brave and bold puppy’s transformation?
Be sure to scroll down below to see Tig in action and interviews with all of the humans involved in his rescue and recovery.
You can also check out his progress on Instagram at @tigsfanclub!
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