Is there a greater joy in life than transforming a neglected dog’s life? “Hardly,” is what any dog owner would say without a doubt!
Just picture it: you reach out to a shelter, meet a dog that’s been neglected their whole life, take the leap, and give it a home after it had been overlooked for so long. Then, you watch it day by day transform into a brand-new pup! It’s just so incredibly rewarding!
Sam Medina, from St. Petersburg, Florida, knows this feeling all too well! He first welcomed Leonard as a scared, traumatized pup saved from a hoarding situation.
Today, the two are best buds, and Leonard is undoubtedly a biking companion anyone would wish for!
From Hoarding Situation To New Life
Leonard’s backstory is truly heartbreaking. Before meeting Sam, he was a victim of a cruel hoarding situation along with thirty other dogs. He lived outside his whole life, not knowing what love felt like. On top of everything, Leonard suffered a severe case of heartworms.
As a result, Leonard didn’t trust anyone. He was completely shut down and hardly interacted with anyone.
Enter Sam!
The minute this Florida man saw Leonard in his tiny kennel, he knew the two were meant to be. Although this scared pup was overlooked in the shelter by everyone, Sam decided to give him a chance, and it turned out to be the best decision ever!
For the first six months, Leonard and Sam took things slowly. The pup successfully went through his treatment, but still had trust issues.
He spent most of his time curled up in corners, avoiding contact. The most he did was accept treats from Sam’s hand, slowly building toward friendship, but that was about it. Then, one day, Sam decided to take him for a bike ride in a backpack.
From there, to say that it’s all been smooth sailing would be an understatement!
Not only did Leonard come out of his shell, but he literally transformed into a brand-new dog and just the coolest companion!
The Coolest Biking Buddy
For some reason, Leonard enjoys his bike rides with his dad more than anything. Those moments when he puts on his special dog goggles, gets in the backpack, and soaks up the beauty of his surroundings while riding a bike are just precious, and Leonard can’t get enough of them.
The rides even helped them expand their social circle and gain many friends along the way.
Whenever they go for a ride, Leonard and Sam meet new people (and new admirers) who find this pup’s outfit truly stunning and adorable.
Thanks to his new dad, Leonard now lives the life he always dreamed about. He’s far from being a shut-down pup, and he definitely enjoys every single minute next to Sam.
“A little TLC, time, and lots of patience, he’s now the happiest little guy. Can’t believe how far he has come, I’m such a proud dog dad,” Sam added.
One thing is for sure: Sam and Leonard have many more adventures to embark upon. They create memories for life every day while their fabulous bike rides attract the attention of the entire internet.
You can keep up with this duo on Leonard’s official Instagram account to see more of their incredible content.
Enjoy your bike rides, Leonard!