After spending thirteen years with a family in New Jersey, Jake, a senior pup, suddenly found himself unwanted when his owners decided to move. They claimed they couldn’t take him with them, and the heartbreaking alternative of euthanasia loomed if no one stepped forward to save him.
Thankfully, Uncle Neil’s Home, a farm sanctuary in New Jersey, intervened and gave Jake a chance at life. When they finally saw him in person, their hearts shattered even more as it became clear just how neglected this gentle boy had been.
Jake’s Story Of Heartbreak And Rescue
Uncle Neil’s Home received a call from a woman who admitted she would put her 13-year-old dog down if no one agreed to take him in or find a home quickly.
The sanctuary acted immediately, putting out an urgent plea across social media, hoping someone would step forward.
Rian Feldman, the founder of Uncle Neil’s Home, said in an interview: “I received a call one evening from a woman telling me that she needed rescue for her 13-year-old dog because she was moving and going to euthanize him if she couldn’t find a home. I was sickened to hear this and immediately put out an urgent plea across our social media pages calling on our community to help us find a foster home for Jake to save his life.”
Their prayers were answered when a kind couple from Maryland, Valerie and Chris, offered to foster Jake and provide him with the comfort he desperately needed.
When the sanctuary arranged the surrender, they were stunned by what they witnessed.
“They barely said goodbye to him. They yelled out the window ‘bye Jake’ and sped off… after 13 years,” Feldman recalled. “It was clear that he was extremely neglected. He could barely walk, he couldn’t get down from the car, and we had to urge them to help him down.”
Jake’s condition revealed years of hardship.
“Jake is clearly very arthritic and not receiving any supportive care, his nails haven’t been cut in well over a year, and he’s breathing very, very heavily at times. His old family told us that he’s never had a bed before,” Uncle Neil’s Home wrote in their Facebook post.
As devastating as it was to see him left behind at such an old age, there was also a sense of relief. This was his chance to finally experience real love.
Within his first 24 hours at the sanctuary, Jake felt more care and affection than he had in his entire life. “He is insanely sweet and seeing him breaks our heart, but it’s only love and the good life from here on out,” they added.
The Long Road To Healing
The next day, Jake had his first vet visit, and the results were difficult to hear.
He was diagnosed with severe osteoarthritis in all four legs, enlarged elbows, muscle loss, cracked teeth, dental disease, hearing loss, conjunctivitis, and several masses on his skin.
There were also concerns about possible laryngeal paralysis, bladder stones, a testicular mass, and neurological issues. To make matters worse, Jake had never even been neutered.
Treatment was started immediately. Within only a few days with his loving foster family, Jake’s eyes began to sparkle again. Pain medication and medical support helped him regain comfort, and the love surrounding him lifted his spirits.
“Jake needs surgery for the mass on his right testicle and bladder stones. We will neuter Jake, have the mass biopsied, and the doctor will remove the bladder stones during that surgery. Later, he’ll need a dental for 2 cracked teeth,” Uncle Neil’s Home shared on Instagram.
After undergoing his first surgery, Jake began his recovery journey. His foster family has been showering him with love, and his progress has been incredible.
“He is doing amazingly well in his foster home. We’re hoping for a foster fail,” Feldman said.
Today, Jake is healing, happy, and thriving with people who truly care about him. His story is a powerful reminder that even in the darkest moments, love can give an animal the second chance they always deserved.You can follow Jake’s journey and recovery updates on his Instagram profile, @jakeypals.