How do you explain to a dog that you can no longer keep him by your side?
That was the heartbreaking situation one woman faced when she had to surrender her beloved pup to a shelter. The reason was devastating: she needed to be hospitalized for cancer treatment.
Her heart ached knowing her senior dog, Jackson, was heading into an overcrowded shelter where his safety was uncertain.
The staff at Tulsa Animal Welfare in Oklahoma immediately noticed her despair. Moved by her situation, they tried to come up with a better option.
They reached out to Emily, a local groomer and rescuer, and asked if she would consider fostering Jackson until his mom was well enough to bring him home again.
Finding Comfort In A Foster Home
When Emily heard about Jackson’s story, she didn’t hesitate to welcome him. She knew this pup needed a safe place to wait for his mom.
Relieved, Jackson’s owner brought him to Emily’s home in Tulsa, Oklahoma. “I could immediately tell how much she loved him,” Emily told Newsweek.
Tears streamed down the woman’s face as she thanked Emily. She kissed her pup, whispered promises that she would return and promised him that she would come back for him.
Jackson was left bewildered. He didn’t understand why his mom was leaving without him.
Emily and her family stepped in with open arms, showering him with affection and ensuring he felt secure.
Even though Jackson enjoyed his foster home, his heart still longed for his mom. He waited with the quiet belief that she would come back.
At the hospital, his mom thought of Jackson constantly. She reached out to Emily every day, desperate for updates.
“She wrote me every day, asking about him, and I sent her updates. She ended up having to stay in the hospital for a little over two months. During that time, we treated Jackson like one of ours. He was such a pleasure to take care of, very laid back, and slept a lot, Emily added.
A Reunion Filled With Tears
When Jackson’s mom was finally discharged, she rushed to reunite with her best friend.
The moment Jackson spotted her, he sprinted toward her, tail wagging furiously, and smothered her face with kisses.
Overcome with joy, he bounced with excitement, thrilled that the person he loved most had come back for him.
Emily and her family wiped away tears as they watched the beautiful reunion unfold.
Everyone felt joy knowing Jackson’s story had a happy ending.
Thanks to Emily’s kindness, both Jackson and his mom were given exactly what they needed most: love, patience, and hope during the hardest of times.