Sammie was born like any other dog – he just wanted to be loved.
Sadly, his life took a terrible turn along with dozens of other German Shepherd and Belgian Malinois dogs. Instead of enjoying life to the fullest, Sammie and his buddies were confined to a tiny apartment, never seeing the light of day.
“Thanks to” a neglectful breeder, the dogs called narrow closets and cupboards their home. They struggled to move, let alone live a decent dog life, and Sammie had it the worst. He was so shut down and terrified that he couldn’t even move – at all.
He Was Completely Shut Down
When Animal Care Centers of New York City received a call about forty German Shepherd and Belgian Malionis living in horrific conditions, the rescuers immediately rushed to the scene. What they found there shocked them to the core.
“The dogs – ranging from young puppies to fullygrown adults – had allegedly never been outside prior to their rescue. Some were discovered inside closets and cupboards or packed into tight spaces with no access to fresh air or sunlight,” ACC stated.
Not being able to take all of the dogs at once, they asked Zion’s Mission Animal Rescue for assistance. The rescue organization agreed to take ten dogs, with Sammie being one of them. However, his situation in particular truly broke their hearts.
Sammie was so shut down that he could barely lift his head, and he refused to move. So, instead of taking him out on a leash, the rescuers needed to lift him in a blanket and take him into the car on a cart.
Sloane Quealy, one of the founders of the New York rescue, tried to befriend Sammie with kind words and gentle pats, but to no avail. The dog was simply too afraid to interact with anyone.
He spent the rest of the day lying, making Quealy wonder if his legs were atrophied from not moving.
Given his behavior, the rescuers took him to a training facility for a month to help him decompress, hoping Sammie would finally be able to stand on his paws. What happened next truly warmed their hearts!
The Second Chance
All it took for Sammie to come out of his shell was to see a couple of puppies saved along with him from the New York apartment. As soon as he spotted them doing zoomies in the yard – he perked up and joined them.
It was as if he knew that he was finally safe.
“His soul may have been bruised, but he is on his way to healing. After he saw the pups Sammie let out the biggest sigh and laid down next to them. We knew at that very moment he knew he was safe and loved,” ZMAR wrote on Instagram.
In less than a week, Sammie was a brand-new dog. He no longer retreated to the corners, refusing to move or walk – but he did the complete opposite: Sammie became a puppy himself. He engaged in playtime with the puppies and demanded cuddles whenever he saw the opportunity.
Thanks to his rescuers who reunited him with his friends, Sammie was finally able to start a new chapter of his life.
After spending a month in the training facility, Sammie will be ready for adoption. His ideal home would be with owners experienced with German Shepherds, in a spacious yard, and possibly with another dog.
After everything Sammie has been through, he certainly deserves the best!