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I agreed to foster a chihuahua for a local rescue. When I went to get her, they couldn't find her, so I took a little boy who I knew nothing about, except that he was 2-years-old and was surrendered because his owners moved to a place that didn’t allow pets.

DOG. PHOTO: PIXABAY / MYLENE

He was crazy in the car on the way home, bouncing like a rubber ball all over the car. He finally settled down when we got to our home. He loved running in the yard. He played with my three girls and was doing great. I came home from work one day to find a very different boy, though.

He was obviously very sick. It was late in the day, and I couldn’t reach the foster coordinator at the rescue, so I decided to take him to my vet. I suspected he had Parvovirus. They treated him for nausea and dehydration but said it was unlikely to be Parvovirus. When I finally spoke to the foster coordinator, she agreed that it was unlikely Parvovirus due to his age.

PHOTO: TERESA HENSLEY

He was even sicker the next day. He crawled under my bed to be alone. My husband laid on the floor and talked him out of dying. We went back to the vet as soon as they opened. At my insistence, he was tested and was positive for Parvovirus. Between the rescue and me, he was treated and ultimately survived. It was a long week of treatments and prayers.

My husband said that we would just be that family with four dogs, as we decided he would be ours forever. That was 10 years ago. Today, he is still spunky and full of energy and still hates car rides. He has been the best foster failure of all time. I use his experience to talk to others about the importance of vaccines.

PHOTO: TERESA HENSLEY

Story submitted by Teresa Hensley.

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