It may be hard to watch this viral video that shows the harsh reality of animal neglect. Harold was skin and bone when he was found wandering the streets in North Oshawa in Ontario, Canada. But now is thriving and just like any other puppy—thanks to his foster carer.
Kayleigh McGovern, a volunteer and team member at Oshawa Animal Services, decided to look after the emaciated dog who was too weak to even walk back in July. She documented his progress and shared a slideshow of images on her TikTok page.
Kathy Pittman-Feltham, the shelter manager told Newsweek: “Harold quickly captured all of our hearts and we were rooting for him to get healthy and find his forever home.”
In the viral video that has 791,800 views, @kayleigh_mcgovern added on-screen text to explain each image. She stated he spent the first three days in bed and he didn’t have the strength to empty his bladder.
She wrote: “We shared many cuddles, watched lots of shows, and most importantly he got lots of rest.”
One image shows Harold’s skeletal body as the on-screen text explains: “This picture is still so jarring to look at. He was examined at the vet for possible causes of his emaciation. The vets concluded the only thing wrong with him was that he was essentially starving to death.”
After a few days of tender love and care, Harold started to feel stronger and became playful. Now four months on, he is just like any other puppy.
Pittman-Feltham told Newsweek: “Kayleigh helped nurse him back to health and he was then adopted by a member of the community who is a second-time adopter from us.
“He is doing phenomenal and is the perfect picture of health.”
Harold’s remarkable transformation has touched the hearts of thousands of TikTok users. But sadly, his situation wasn’t a rare case.
Each year 6.3 million pets are surrendered to U.S. shelters, which is an average of 17,260 a day, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Around 920,000 surrendered animals are euthanized every year. Shelters are striving to minimize euthanasia rates by promoting adoption campaigns, spaying and neutering programs, and behavior rehabilitation.
Pittman-Feltham told Newsweek: “We see many sad cases come through our doors and the team is always excited to be a part of the next chapter in their story as most times we don’t have any information on their past.
“We are hoping Harold’s story shines a light on the many cases across the rescue world that need our help.
“Fostering saves lives and Harold is a perfect example of that!“
Hanging by a Miracle Thread: The Emotionally Charged Saga of Rescuing a Dog, Unveiling Its Vulnerable Core, and Reigniting the Flame of Life.
It’s truly remarkable how resilient dogs can be in the face of adversity. Allow me to introduce you to Hope, a little warrior rescued by Deepika Srivastavva in Gurgaon, India. Hope was discovered as a tiny puppy with her insides hanging out, abandoned and defenseless.
Imagine her plight – just 20 days old, separated from her mother, and left in an area inhabited by territorial street dogs. They attacked her, leaving her on the brink of death. Thankfully, she was found in time and rushed to the hospital, where a life-saving surgery was performed to mend her injured stomach.
Today, Hope is a thriving 4-5 months old, living up to her name with incredible resilience and potential. Despite not being involved in her initial rescue, Stray Dog stepped in when no one in India was willing to adopt her. Returning her to the streets was not an option, as she lacked the survival skills necessary.
“We’ll be standing by this brave girl until we find her a new home. Although she appears physically healthy, we had to postpone her spay surgery due to the challenges she has overcome,” shares her rescuer and foster parent.
According to them, Hope is not just physically resilient but also remarkably clever and affectionate. She’s learned to walk on a leash and is crate trained, proving that even after a tumultuous start, love and care can transform a life. Let’s join hands to ensure Hope’s journey continues towards a brighter, happier future.
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