Every dog deserves a life filled with safety, comfort, and love.
As pet parents, we do everything possible to protect them, but sometimes circumstances are beyond our control. A normal walk can lead to an accident, or an illness might appear without warning.
What matters most is being there for them when they need us. That is exactly what one woman did when she adopted a senior pup, unaware of the painful secret waiting to be uncovered.
An Unexpected Truth
Kelly P. Bergman met Posie at a shelter while she was living in Alabama. To her surprise, she learned that the sweet dog was already considered a senior.
Curious about her past, Bergman tried to piece together the details, but very little information was available. Posie’s history was mostly a mystery.
What was clear was that she had already passed through several homes before arriving at the shelter. Tracing her original owners was nearly impossible.
The shelter staff estimated her age to be somewhere between 13 and 15 years old, though even that was uncertain.
Despite the unknowns, Bergman didn’t hesitate. She instantly loved Posie and was determined to give her the kind of life every dog deserves.
After relocating to New Jersey, she continued to care for her with the same devotion, never expecting the shocking discovery that would soon follow.
When Posie developed a persistent cough, Bergman took her to the vet for a thorough check-up.
The X-ray results left her stunned. Beneath Posie’s heart, the vet identified small objects that turned out to be BB gun pellets.
Having seen similar cases before, the veterinarian explained that Posie had likely been shot during her time in New Jersey.
Thankfully, the pellets weren’t the cause of her coughing and weren’t creating immediate harm. The vet prescribed steroids for her condition and reassured Bergman that Posie would be okay.
The Online Community Responds
Shaken by the news, Bergman decided to share Posie’s story on Reddit. Within hours, the post drew a wave of compassion from people all over the internet.
One user commented: “Omg, people are terrible! I am so sorry. Thank you for adopting an older dog. She must believe she went to heaven when you adopted her.”
It is hard to imagine why anyone would inflict such cruelty on an innocent dog. Posie must have been terrified during the ordeal.
Another reader shared a similar experience: “I understand this well. I adopted an elderly pitbull and I found out from the vet that someone shot her with duck shot in the lungs. I was so angry.”
Stories like these reflect just how much anger and heartbreak pet lovers feel when they learn of such cruelty. No animal should ever have to go through that.
Someone else added: “These kinds of things make me hope that instant karma is more than a good song.”
Though it remains unclear who harmed Posie, one can only hope that the person responsible has changed and no longer poses a danger to animals. What happened to her was truly cruel, and she never deserved any of it.
Still, in the midst of that dark past, there is comfort in the kindness she has found. Thanks to Bergman’s love and the support of strangers online, Posie’s story serves as a reminder that compassion will always outshine cruelty.