Over 40 dogs were pulled from a severe hoarding case by the Houston Humane Society, where the animals were living in a dilapidated trailer filled with filth and trash.
Among them was an older Chihuahua named Toothless.
Given the awful conditions and the trauma these dogs endured, it was expected that Toothless was extremely feral and distrustful.
However, everything changed once a compassionate woman decided to give him a chance and adopt him.
Toothless’ Early Life
Madeleine Cantrell, Toothless’ adoptive mom from Houston, described him as very feral and cautious when he was first rescued, suggesting that he and the other dogs had almost no positive human interaction.
The trailer they lived in was horrific, cluttered with waste and trash, and the dogs likely had to compete for their minimal food supply.
When Toothless arrived at the Houston shelter, he frequently growled and barked at anyone who approached, even attempting to bite.
Having long worked with the Houston shelter, Madeleine felt compelled to help after hearing the heartbreaking story of these dogs.
“My coworker and I opened the kennel and we had a towel, so we placed it on him and he just froze. We discovered that he wasn’t really reacting out of aggression. It was more [out of] fear. He was very confused because he’s only known living in trash and disheveled furniture for his whole life,” Madeleine told GeoBeats Animals.
Toothless simply didn’t know how to trust humans and was acting out of fear.
Despite this rough first impression, Madeleine wanted to foster him and offer him a second chance.
They noticed he was covered in fleas and had no teeth, inspiring the name Toothless.
From ‘Feral’ To Friendly
Once Toothless went home with Madeleine, changes started immediately.
Initially, he ran away in fear and tried to gum her a few times, but by the next morning, he was already showing a completely different personality.
When Madeleine held him for the first time, it was clear he had never experienced love before.
“The next day though, he was a completely different dog. I brought him to work with me again, and he was pawing at my legs because he wanted to be held,” Madeleine said.
In just 24 hours, Toothless began to understand that being loved felt good.
A few days later, Madeleine officially adopted him, and the two became inseparable.
“He is one of the sweetest little dogs I’ve ever had, even though he may only let his guard down for me. Toothless has fallen in love with my other dog, Sunshine, and he loves to play with her and snuggle by her. I have honestly never been a chihuahua person before this, but he has made me have a soft spot for them,” Madeleine wrote in an Instagram post.
Today, Toothless is thriving. He adores his mom, is very clingy, and protective of her.
He is still receiving treatment for heartworm, and the cause of his eye issues remains unknown. Otherwise, he is a healthy and happy senior dog.
“Often people are so willing to overlook dogs like that. I just think that they are so grateful to their adoptive families and it’s gonna be the best love you will ever know,” Madeleine concluded.
Toothless’ journey shows how rescuing dogs and giving them a second chance can completely transform their lives.