The harsh reality for many abandoned dogs is a desperate quest for a second chance at life.
Not all dogs looking for a place to call home actually find one, but thankfully, Reggie did. He was a lonely, sick, and emaciated stray before a kind-hearted vet fell in love with him and decided to give him a second chance.
Reggie may have had a rough start in life, but with his amazing new family, everything got a lot better.
Reggie’s Rescue Story
Reggie was found emaciated in a junkyard on an island. He had multiple diseases and was on the verge of death.
If he wasn’t rescued then, he probably wouldn’t have survived.
The recovery process wasn’t easy, but at the veterinary clinic, he met the person who would essentially save his life.
“I saw him and we just locked eyes. He was whining and adamant about being in my arms and going home with me. He was still in the recovery phase, but through the brunt of it,” Allie, Reggie’s mom, told GeoBeats Animals.
Reggie was a nervous dog and had a reactivity issue at first (he would lunge and bark at everything).
Allie, who was studying to be a veterinarian at the time, did a lot of training and adjustments with him. It all had to be done slowly.
During that time, both her and her boyfriend (now husband) fell in love with this dog, and they just knew they were bringing him home to North Carolina.
One In A Million
Reggie now is one goofy and happy dog, always doing cartwheels and zipping around the yard. He is a part of one huge family of three dogs and four cats.
They all came from different backgrounds where they needed significant help, but now they are living the happiest life ever.
Throughout the years, the family has also had a lot of foster animals. “It’s hard to say no in the vet field where you see pets that need help,” said Allie.
Reggie, however, has always been such an amazing foster parent.
He shows the fosters the toys and teaches them how to play appropriately, which only shows how much he has improved after being surrounded by loving people and animals.
“He loves everybody, and he doesn’t have those fears that he used to have,” said Allie.
Although he is a much healthier dog than he was while living in the junkyard, Reggie still has some health issues.
According to Allie, Reggie has a portosystemic liver shunt, which is basically a vessel that shunts the blood past the liver instead of going to it.
This makes him more susceptible to various illnesses, but thanks to a healthy diet and monitoring, he is doing okay. “We both feel like we have a very special bond with him. He’s been through every difficulty that I’ve experienced in the past eight years. He is our heart dog for sure. You just have to take every day as one more special day with him. ”
