Reality hits hard when you know you can’t save all the dogs in need. Sometimes, even when you do your best and extend a helping hand to a dog in need, you just know it isn’t enough. And, the fact that you arrived too late is even more heartbreaking!
Dillon, a pup found at a local dumping site in Texas, was one of those dogs.
When she was found, she was already dealing with several progressing health issues, and her prognosis was far from good.
Dillon was showered with love, medical care, and everything she’d been missing out on her entire life, but all of that still wasn’t enough. This lovely girl was on the verge of saying goodbye when, to everyone’s surprise, something amazing happened!
Heartbreaking Condition
Becca Isabel, the director of Yaqui Animal Rescue in South Texas, was devastated to see Dillon struggling on a dumping site. She had absolutely no food around her, and the only shelter she had was an old mattress.
At first, Dillon seemed reluctant to receive help, but Becca and the rest of the team didn’t give up. They patiently waited for her to realize she wasn’t in danger, and soon enough, the pup warmed up to them.
What they didn’t realize at the time was that Dillon’s condition was far worse than they expected.
She had a severe nail and skin infection, and heartworms, indicating that Dillon had never lived her life in a loving home.
“She came with a slew of problems like a fungal skin infection, missing toenails with infection, gastritis, and worms,” Becca wrote in an Instagram post.
Thanks to her rescuers, the dog was successfully transferred to a veterinary hospital, where her treatment began. Then, another heartbreak unfolded!
The vet team diagnosed Dillon with Caval Syndrome, known as a complication of heartworms.
“Dillon has been diagnosed with Caval Syndrome which means she’s in the final stages of heartworm disease,” Becca explains further in the post.
Due to her disease, Dillon coped with symptoms like respiratory problems, weakness, and her organs slowly failing.
At the time, all her caregivers could do was manage her symptoms.
“All we can do is manage her symptoms and help her pass when it becomes too much for her body to bear. Vet doesn’t think it’s time yet, so we’re gonna make sure she continues to know how loved she is,” the rescue stated.
Heartbroken by the news, Becca made it her mission to find Dillon a decent foster home where she could spend the rest of her days. She knew taking in a hospice patient would be a challenge, but she never stopped hoping that the right person would show up. And, she was right!
Dillon Beats The Odds
One of Becca’s friends reached out to her, saying she wanted to foster Dillon, and her rescuer couldn’t have been happier! Knowing this lovely girl would finally learn all about being loved in a warm family was beyond rewarding. It was the best Dillon could receive in her final days.
Thanks to her fosters, Dillon had it all: a spacious yard, many plushies that she adored, and a safe environment in which she felt comfortable like never before.
Dillon truly blossomed into a brand-new dog, and despite her disease, she never took the smile off her face.
What shocked everyone the most was how well she responded to her treatment. She was the dog given only months to live, yet months later, Dillon was still going strong. Soon enough, Dillon’s foster parents decided to keep her permanently.
“We found her a foster home but initially thought she would only live a few months. Remarkably, Dillion has been doing very well and is now happy in her forever home,” the Texas rescue wrote on Facebook.
Now, Dillon is happier than ever, and she’s as far from saying her final goodbye as possible!
Happy life, sweet girl! You’re a true inspiration!