A dog’s happiness? It’s simple and comes down to two things: love and a warm home.
That’s why I believe the luckiest dogs are the ones with a family they can count on forever. Just picture it: one home your whole life. No changes. No surprises. Just pure comfort. “It’s pawfect” is what our four-legged friends would probably say if they could speak.
Sadly, some pups find themselves abandoned at a shelter after decades with a family, like Wonka.
This 16-year-old Dachshund arrived at a Florida facility as a stray, with a mouth full of rotten teeth and no one to claim him. For a moment, Wonka looked like any other street dog who had struggled for years. But then, his microchip revealed a heartbreaking story.
Starting All Over At 16 Years Of Age
Before arriving at Dachshund Rescue South Florida (DRSF), Wonka stayed at a local animal shelter. To say that his condition was bad would be an understatement. Almost all of his teeth were rotten and required surgery.
But as heartbreaking as it was, the rescue was determined to help. To make things even more heartbreaking, the Florida rescue soon learned that Wonka had a family before.
“He was left behind after 16 years of love and loyalty with a mouth full of rotten teeth,” the Florida rescue shared in a Facebook post.
He had a microchip with his family contact information still valid. Sadly, their attempts to reach out to his owners got zero response.
“The shelter reached out multiple times, in multiple ways to reach his family and got zero response. Nada. Nothing. 16 years of love and loyalty and discarded. Heartbreaking,” the rescue added.
For reasons Wonka’s caregivers couldn’t understand, this sweet pup had been abandoned in the autumn of his life.
Wonka’s pain was evident. Aside from his teeth, his heart was broken, too. Fortunately, thanks to a dedicated team at DRSF, the Dachshund’s journey was far from over.
Hoping For A Happily Ever After
The Florida rescue set out to raise funds for Wonka’s crucial dental surgery. He was already missing ten of his teeth, with six more that had to be removed.
Given his age, the vet team and Wonka’s current caregivers had doubts about his recovery. However, his resilience took everyone by surprise.
Wonka’s recovery went incredibly well. Before long, he was discharged from the hospital and transferred to a foster home.
“Today, Wonka and his warrior tooth were discharged from LeadER Animal Specialty Hospital to a medical foster home for him to continue his recovery and get ready to start interviewing potential candidates to choose his forever family,” DRSF wrote in an update post.
Right now, Wonka is receiving all the love he had missed out on in the past. His days are all about taking cozy naps, cuddles, and low-key activities that keep him entertained.
When the time is right, Wonka will be ready for his next life chapter. Hopefully, it will be filled with comfort and love, just the way he deserves.