On a seemingly ordinary September day, The Animal Pad, a dog rescue in San Diego, received an urgent call from their partner emergency vet clinic.
A seven-month-old German shepherd puppy had been brought in with a reported dog bite wound, but something wasn’t right. His entire face was swollen, and blood tests revealed he was battling chronic illnesses rarely seen in dogs so young. To make matters worse, his owners chose to surrender him instead of seeking further treatment.
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As soon as Lauren, The Animal Pad’s director, learned about the pup, she dropped everything to help. The rescue team took him in, naming him Chance, and immediately focused on stabilizing his fragile condition. Despite his suffering, Chance’s gentle and loving nature shone through, proving he had so much life left to live.
“You can tell he is a very special dog behind it all,” The Animal Pad wrote on Facebook. “His first year on the planet should not have been this, and now he’s fighting for his life.”
Chance underwent a blood transfusion and extensive testing, leading to a diagnosis of a severe abscess in his face that required urgent surgical drainage. The procedure was long and delicate, but as soon as it was over, the transformation was immediate—Chance no longer looked swollen, and relief was clear in his eyes.
“He looks like a brand-new dog,” The Animal Pad shared joyfully.
While the abscess removal was a huge victory, Chance’s fight wasn’t over. He was painfully underweight, and his bloodwork still hinted at ongoing health challenges. But with round-the-clock care, nutritious meals, and a whole lot of love, he began to recover.
Now, months later, Chance is thriving. He’s been placed in a foster home, where he enjoys playing with other dogs, snuggling with his humans, and embracing his second chance at life. Though he remains on medical hold while his treatment continues, he’s closer than ever to finding his forever home.
“Chance is the sweetest!” said Erica Fiore, director of marketing for The Animal Pad.
From a fragile, swollen pup abandoned at an ER to a happy, playful dog ready for a fresh start, Chance’s story is a testament to resilience, compassion, and the power of second chances. Soon, he’ll be ready to meet the family who will love him forever—and The Animal Pad team can’t wait to see him off to his happily ever after.
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