After thirteen years in a New Jersey home, Jake, a sweet senior dog, suddenly became “too much” the moment his family decided to move. They said they couldn’t take him with them, and if nobody stepped in, he faced the heartbreaking possibility of being gently put to sleep.
Thankfully, Uncle Neil’s Home, a farm sanctuary in New Jersey, stepped forward and offered Jake a real chance at a fresh start. But when the sanctuary staff finally met him in person, their hearts dropped even more, because it was painfully clear just how long this kind, gentle old boy had been ignored and neglected.
Jake’s Journey Of Loss
Uncle Neil’s Home was contacted by a woman who confessed she would put down her 13-year-old dog unless someone quickly agreed to take him or provide a home.
The sanctuary moved without hesitation, sending out an urgent appeal across social media, hoping someone would respond.
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 call was answered when Valerie and Chris, a compassionate couple from Maryland, offered to foster Jake and provide the comfort he had been missing.
When the surrender was arranged, the sanctuary was stunned by what they saw.
“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 state revealed the toll of many years of neglect.
“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.
Though heartbreaking, there was also relief. At last, Jake had the chance to feel real love and attention.
In just his first 24 hours at the sanctuary, Jake experienced more kindness and affection than he had ever known before. “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 Path Toward Healing
The next day, Jake had his first vet visit, and the results were difficult to hear.
The following morning, Jake went for his first veterinary appointment, and the results were hard to take in.
He was found to have advanced osteoarthritis in all four legs, swollen elbows, muscle deterioration, cracked teeth, dental disease, hearing impairment, conjunctivitis, and multiple growths on his skin.
Further worries included possible laryngeal paralysis, bladder stones, a testicular growth, and neurological complications. Making matters worse, Jake had never been neutered.
Care was started right away. Within just a few days in his nurturing foster home, Jake’s eyes began to shine again. Pain relief and medical treatment brought him comfort, while the steady love around him lifted his spirit.
“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.
Once his first surgery was completed, Jake began his path to recovery. His foster family surrounded him with affection and attention, and his improvement has been extraordinary.
“He is doing amazingly well in his foster home. We’re hoping for a foster fail,” Feldman said.
Now, Jake is healing, joyful, and flourishing with people who truly value him. His journey is a reminder that even in the darkest times, love can grant an animal the second chance they always deserved. Follow Jake’s journey and recovery updates on his Instagram profile, @jakeypals.