Heartwarming

This Half-Paralyzed Dog Had Given Up All Hope After Being Left To Die In Shelter

By
Andrea A.

Ruby, a German Shepherd cross, has had a particularly difficult life. After being adopted from a shelter when she was 10 months old, she spent 6 miserable years at the hands of an abusive owner who kept her locked in a cage and regularly hit her.This left physical and psychological scars on the dog, who was placed in West Valley shelter in Los Angeles (USA), after being rescued. Her owner was arrested and charged with animal cruelty.

Source: Shira Astrof

Shira Astrof, a volunteer at Care Rescue LA, toldThe Dodo:

I was told that she was adopted from the West Valley pound six years ago when she was 10 months old, and she was this beautiful, healthy German shepherd mix, and then she was returned by the police six years later as this emaciated, 40-pound dog that couldn’t use her hind legs.

Source: Shira Astrof

Once she arrived at the shelter, Ruby was put into isolation, where she was wasting away, refusing to eat. The police were trying to gather together enough proof to convict her previous owner. This was when Shira decided to act. She contacted the West Valley shelter after having seen a video of Ruby and offered to take care of her, urging them to provide the police with all the necessary photos, recordings, or documents for the investigation.

Source: Shira Astrof

When she got to Shira's house, Ruby transformed entirely. The young woman explained that the dog, despite her trauma, still loves humans and gets on perfectly with other animals.

Her tail immediately starts wagging when any new person or any animal enters the room. She loves dogs, she loves cats, she loves everyone. It’s such a testament of how dogs are different than people. It’s like she knows she’s been rescued and she’s been saved now.

Source: Shira Astrof

Unfortunately, Ruby still hasn't fully recovered. The physical trauma that she has suffered is still significant, and she still shows signs of stress. With the aim of helping Ruby to feel better, Shira and her friend Maria (who is currently caring for Ruby), have been taking her to acupuncture, massage and hydrotherapy sessions. Shira is also helping Ruby discover all the things she could never do before, like have long walks in the park.

She even loves her walks, even though you can see that she’s in pain doing it. But she lets us know when she needs to be picked up.

Source: Shira Astrof

Ruby also loves Shira's cats, even if they do not always love her back:

She starts crying with excitement when she sees them. She just wants to lick them and play with them and cuddle with them, and they’ll do it for a second, but then they’ll swat her.

Source: Shira Astrof

Shira finished:

I’m so in love with her. I’ve rescued thousands of dogs, but this dog has changed my life. She is the most forgiving, sweetest dog. All she wants to do is love and be loved.

Source: Shira Astrof

If you are thinking of getting a pet, please consider adopting through one of your local shelters, such as theASPCAif you are from the U.S. or theRSPCAif you live in the U.K.

Via : The Dodo

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