Pennsylvania Rescuer Met A Puppy Smaller Than Her Hand, And His Story Took An Unexpected Turn
When a tiny, injured Pennsylvania puppy was surrendered to a veterinary clinic, one rescuer stepped in to give him a chance. Today, he is a 78-pound gentle giant who refuses to sleep without his favorite blanket.
A Heartbreaking Start
At just three weeks old, a tiny Pennsylvania puppy the size of a cell phone was brought into a veterinary clinic.
His situation was incredibly serious. A backyard breeder had surrendered him, asking the clinic to provide care for the fragile animal after a serious head injury.
The breeder claimed the puppy’s mother had attacked him, sensing that something was wrong with her baby.
But the veterinary team couldn’t give up on him before his story had even begun.
A Desperate Phone Call
A vet tech who knew an experienced rescuer named Kim decided to make an urgent phone call.
“Hey, I have a dog,” the tech told her, hoping to find a miracle for the severely injured and vulnerable pup.
Kim didn’t hesitate. She knew the puppy’s chances were slim, but she thought to herself, “Who else is going to take this dog?”
She immediately drove over to pick him up, determined to give him at least a fighting chance at life.
Fighting Through The First Nights
When Kim first held him, she was shocked by his tiny stature. He was so small he could easily fit in the palm of her hand.
The little pup was completely helpless and required round-the-clock care just to survive.
Kim had to bottle-feed him constantly and manually stimulate him so he could go to the bathroom.
The first few days were touch-and-go, but when they made it through the third night, Kim knew he wasn’t going anywhere. He was a fighter.
Finding Comfort In The Pack
The tiny survivor needed a name, and a three-year-old in Kim’s life came up with the perfect, playful moniker: Bing Bong.
Despite his rough start, Bing Bong easily integrated into Kim’s home, which already housed three other dogs at the time.
He fell right into the pack dynamic, finding immense comfort and security in the presence of his new canine siblings.
Surrounded by his new family, his joyful personality began to shine through. He even developed a “weird fly thing,” jumping wildly into the air whenever he got excited.
Learning A New Way To Communicate
As Bing Bong grew, it became clear that he was blind, though the vet couldn’t determine if it was from birth or the trauma.
This required a major adjustment for Kim, who was used to using hand signals and eye contact with a deaf dog she had previously cared for.
Now, she had to rely entirely on her voice. Bing Bong depended on hearing everything around him to feel safe and oriented.
“I had to learn to be a lot more vocal with him,” Kim explained, constantly talking to guide her growing pup.
The Rules Of The House
Bing Bong eventually grew from a tiny, fragile puppy into 78 pounds of solid muscle.
He learned to navigate his home beautifully, but Kim has one strict rule: she cannot move the furniture.
Once Bing Bong memorizes where a couch or a seat is placed, it has to stay exactly in that spot.
If something unexpected is in his way, the muscular dog will simply bulldoze right through it, unaware of the obstacle.
Shadows And Sunbeams
To this day, the veterinarians aren’t entirely sure if Bing Bong is completely in the dark or if he can perceive shadows.
Some days, when the sun shines brightly through the door, he seeks out the light and sits right in the middle of the sunbeam.
Kim often wonders if he can see the shifting shadows, or if he simply loves the feeling of the warmth on his fur.
Either way, these quiet moments basking in the sun are some of his absolute favorite times of the day.
The Gentle Kleptomaniac
Bing Bong developed a hilarious quirk as he got older: he loves to hold things in his mouth.
Kim affectionately calls him a “kleptomaniac” because he constantly carries various household items around.
He never ruins or tears up his treasures; he just holds them gently, which Kim believes gives him a sense of security.
His most prized possession is his “blankey,” which he dutifully fetches every night when Kim says it’s time to go to bed.
A Curfew For The Noisy Ball
Because he relies on sound, Bing Bong’s favorite toys are balls that make noise or have bells hidden inside.
He loves to play with his noisy ball, but it comes with a strict 8:00 p.m. curfew in Kim’s house.
If she doesn’t hide it, he will try to bring the loud toy into bed, happily torturing everyone with the constant ringing.
Once the toy is put away, Bing Bong settles down, usually choosing to sleep directly on top of Kim.
Stopping To Smell The Roses
Outside the house, Bing Bong’s lack of sight is compensated by an incredible sense of smell.
He loves to walk and can track a scent with astonishing accuracy, even noticing if someone walked on the path an hour before them.
His slow, methodical walks have had a profound impact on Kim, who admits she used to be very impulsive and rushed.
“It’s like stop and smell the roses, and that’s all he does,” she shared. “He was given a second chance and he is doing something with it.”
