When a beloved pet suddenly becomes sick, owners will do anything to save them. Sometimes, that even means making an incredibly difficult decision for the animal’s best chance at survival.
That’s exactly what happened to Carolyn Knight, a Florida dog owner, when her six-pound Chihuahua, Luna, fell dangerously ill.
After days of worry and failed attempts to help her on her own, Carolyn made the heartbreaking but selfless choice to surrender Luna to a rescue that could afford the medical care she needed.
No one could have predicted what veterinarians would uncover just a few days later.
A Troubling Mystery
It began when Luna came in from the yard and started making strange noises.
Fearing she was choking, Carolyn tried the Heimlich maneuver, but nothing came out. She rushed Luna to the vet, who suspected a throat blockage. However, initial scans didn’t show anything unusual.
Luna’s condition quickly declined. She refused food, kept vomiting, and barely interacted. Carolyn returned to the vet, who explained that exploratory surgery might be necessary. Unfortunately, it was beyond what she could afford.
With few options left, the vet suggested reaching out to a rescue group that could cover Luna’s treatment costs, but doing so meant signing her over.
Although it broke her heart, Carolyn agreed.
Soon, Jaime McKnight from Pawlicious Poochie Pet Rescue received the call and took Luna in for emergency care.
“She is being hospitalized immediately as she has been continuously vomiting,” Jaime shared in a post.
The Real Cause Behind Luna’s Illness
Exploratory surgery failed to locate any obstruction, so the vet ordered a barium test and called in a specialist to review the X-rays.
That’s when the shocking discovery came to light. Luna had swallowed a mango seed. It was stuck sideways in her throat, which made it nearly impossible to detect earlier.
“The puzzle pieces finally came together for LUNA as she hangs on to life. Literally. Was suspected she swallowed mango seed. Case presented as foreign body. The plot twist is the foreign body is splintered and lodged in her throat,” Jaime wrote in another post.
An endoscopic surgery was now the only solution. It was risky, but the rescue refused to give up.
With help from donors, Jaime raised the funds needed for the procedure. The surgery was successful, and Luna recovered remarkably fast. She was even cleared to go home with her caregiver that same day.
A Reunion Full Of Joy
When Carolyn learned Luna had survived, she was overwhelmed with gratitude. She cried tears of relief and immediately started a fundraiser to support the rescue’s efforts.
Although the campaign didn’t gain much traction, Carolyn’s friends and family helped by contributing what they could.
Then came the most emotional twist. Once Luna was declared healthy, Jaime decided not to list her for adoption. Instead, she reunited her with the family that loved her all along.
“Luna belongs with her family. She was sooo happy to be reunited! Luna is one lucky little miracle and today broken hearts and tears were replaced with love and smiles,” Jaime shared.
After a week filled with uncertainty, Luna and Carolyn were finally together again, ready to start fresh.
Luna’s recovery and reunion stand as a powerful reminder of love, compassion, and the incredible things that happen when people refuse to give up on an animal in need.