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Our sweet greyhound, Fig, passed away from osteosarcoma and we were heartbroken.

Christine Resch

We decided to go to our local shelter to find a dog to foster. We found Freddy. He was an obese senior pitbull. We knew right away that we could make such a difference for him! We brought him home and started him on a slow walking routine.

He eventually worked his way up to walking 2 hours a day! He went from 108 pounds to 65! He was the sweetest boy, so loving and happy!

Christine Resch

We adopted him a few months later. Everyone who met him loved him. He was a true ambassador for pitbulls!

At the least, we were his fourth family. He had been surrendered to the Lehigh Valley Humane Society when he was 5. After being adopted, he was given to another family who, again, surrendered him to the Lehigh Valley Humane Society as a senior.

Christine Resch

Tim and I went there to look for a senior dog to foster but the one we had in mind had just had minor surgery. He had stitches and a cone on his head so we were told we could not take him at that time. We looked for another senior who we could help. We found Freddy, who had been surrendered a month earlier. 

He was laying on the floor looking very uncomfortable. He was 108 pounds. Since we walk all the time, we thought we could help him to lose weight and have a better life. We started out with short walks around the block which were slow and difficult for him but he did his best and started to look forward to his walks. Once healthier, he happily walked for an hour or more on each walk!

He loved us instantly and would follow us around the house all day long. 

Christine Resch

We fed him special dog food for weight loss. He had no treats other than carrots. We got the feeling that he never ate dog food before. It seemed as if he had only been given “people” food…and a lot of it!. He started losing weight almost immediately. In less than a year, he was down to 65 pounds, the ideal weight for him.

He loved other dogs and people equally! Everyone who met him, loved him! He was able to turn almost any person around who was fearful of pitbulls. He was eternally happy and always had a big pitbull smile on his face!

Christine Resch

He was an adventurer if nothing else! He loved to explore and he wanted to walk someplace new every day! Fortunately, we live in a large development and there were many new places for him to explore. 

When we picked him up to foster, he was being treated for a severe ear infection. We took him to the shelter vet many times to continue treatment but it kept reoccurring. Only after a procedure that he had to be put under anesthesia for, did he get any relief. We thought that he was just being stubborn and ignoring us when we would talk to him but we later realized that he was nearly deaf because of the untreated ear infections that he likely had all his life.  

We lost him 2 weeks before Christmas. He will remain in our hearts forever. He crossed the Rainbow Bridge knowing how much he was loved.

Christine Resch

It is so very rewarding to foster or adopt a senior pet! Most people say to us that they could never do it because they wouldn’t have them as long as a younger dog. My answer is that seniors need fosters or adopters more than any other animal in the shelter. They sit in the shelter with no one noticing them, being overlooked for the younger animals. They deserve a home and family to love them as much as any other pet. Give a senior a chance! You will never regret it!

Story submitted by Christine Resch

This story was originally shared on The Animal Rescue Site. Share your very own rescue story here!