While adopting a pet is very fulfiling, it isn’t to be done without giving the matter a lot of thought. Most stray animals tend to need more care than those bought from a breeder yet it is one of the noblest things anyone can do.
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So, when a couple found a stray husky wandering around their neighbourhood they knew they had to help it. Little did they know that this decision was going to take them on a whirlwind journey of unexpected proportions.
Alone For Some Time
There are countless abandoned animals across the world and anyone who gives these forgotten souls a loving home is doing god’s work in our opinion. And that is exactly what one couple did.
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They had spotted a scared stray dog around their neighbourhood for quite some time now and became determined to find a home for it, they had no idea that its forever home was going to be their own!
Needed Urgent Care
The couple didn’t have any pets of their own but seeing the poor condition of the dog left them heartbroken. After many attempts, they finally caught the dog and were expecting it to be ferocious and defensive.
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But it was the exact opposite. The dog was weak and scared. And it was clear to see that it needed immediate medical care. “as you can see, he’s in pretty bad shape in this photo […] Notice the patchy fur and the visible ribs. He also had a large scar going across his ribs…”
Vet Visit
Before they could do anything which upon closer inspection they realized was a husky, the couple decided to take it to the vet. Just for note, a normal male husky ranges between 45 and 60 pounds, depending on height.
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But when the couple took this one to the vet and weighed him” he was underweight at 39 pounds. The vet guessed he should have weighed closer to 50 to 55 pounds.” And that wasn’t the only major issue.
Extreme Behaviour
The husky also was very shy and scared. Even moving a finger too quickly made him yelp and tremble. It was obvious that he had been in an abusive home and was actually scared of all men.
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But the couple were dedicated to helping him. Their instincts told them that all this husky needed was a good home and care. And despite the vet warning them of all the extreme work they needed to put into the Husky’s care, the couple took it home.
At Home
They decided to name him Wulfgar and immediately bought all the things he needed to feel at home. The couple were first-time dog owners and were now thrown in the thick of taking care of a sick dog.
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The first and smartest thing they did was set up a kennel for him to sleep in. They reported that “he went in without difficulty, which led us to believe he’d been previously crate-trained. We aren’t sure of what he went through or where he came from. He wasn’t chipped (not that we would have returned him anyway).”
Other Issues
Internet research had helped them understand Wulfgar better and taught the couple to let the dog find its own space and security. They were also advised to get the dog settled into a routine as quickly as possible.
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After that, the first major health issue that the couple had to pay for and manage was the husky’s fur. It was extremely damaged and needed treatment immediately. The couple explained “Huskies have two coats, so for his skin to be so red, dry, and patchy, he had to be infected for quite some time. Our poor boy was likely suffering for months.”
Another Check-Up
Apart from that, his immune system was also terrible, so Wulfgar was prescribed antibiotics and medicated shampoo. Luckily, he had no heartworms or fleas. Also, in his next upcoming appointments, he got a thorough eye-opening checkup.
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For the first few days of his life at his new home, Wulfgar spent most of it going in and out of the veterinary hospital but slowly, all the expensive treatments and hard work started to pay off.
Documenting His Progress
In just a week, Wulfgar looked like a different dog. While he still had his old mental and physical scars, the dog looked to be at peace finally. And that is when the couple decided to document all his progress on Imgur.
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They had been moved by the husky’s personality and spirit and knew that people needed to know about this incredible stray. The couple also hoped that seeing Wulfgar might inspire others to rescue more animals.
He Was Sleeping Nonstop
After his treatments were done, the couple had expected Wulfgar to be full of energy like most dogs. But he never wanted to play outside he was different. All this husky wanted to do was sleep!
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“Now, he primarily naps in his kennel or on a fluffy blanket in the living room,” the couple wrote. And he would sleep for hours and hours. Sometimes the couple had to wake up to make sure he was okay.
Warming Up To His Surroundings
Thankfully though, slowly Wulfgar started feeling safe in the home. According to the owners, “this is another week later and he’s staring at a treat in my hand; sometimes it’s the only way to get him to look at the camera.”
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He started giving them kisses and wagging his tail again. And had a healthy appetite. Thanks to the couple’s efforts Wulfgar was showing all the signs of recovery, so the couple decided to take a big step with him.
First Time At The Dog Park
It had been a few weeks since Wulgar had arrived in their life and while he had settled into their home, the couple wanted him to be familiar with other dogs as well. So far, he had been a docile and easy-going dog.
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So, they took him to the dog park. In typical husky fashion, he was friendly and active around the other dogs. This was a huge relief to the owners as well as a sign that everything would turn out okay.
His Goofy Side
This turned out to be exactly what the dog needed, for the first time the couple saw a playful side to Wulfgar. He even jumped into a pond by himself and seemed to be loving every moment of it.
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It was only a short time before that the husky was starving, neglected and alone in the streets but thankfully this hadn’t scarred him and he was still able to enjoy all the things we know and expect dogs to love.
A Gentle Soul
The owners commented on this picture of Wulfgar with other dogs, with this to say about his behaviour: “He plays well with most other dogs, provided they’re also friendly. Since then we’ve encountered dogs that are aggressive or bark at him.
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They continued “He’s very quiet as far as huskies go, so he never barks back. He mostly stares in confusion.” This is incredible considering how he had been in survival mode for a long time, alone in the streets.
Changing Color
With all the love and care, Wulfgar finally began to physically change into a healthy dog as well. His hair began to fill in the patches where his skin had once been exposed and with this new coat, the owners realized a strange thing.
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His fur started changing colour. It had originally been a distinct red colour but was now beginning to appear more of a grey and even appeared dark copper colour, especially in the sunlight. Wulfgar probably felt like a different dog but now he was looking like it as well.
One Month Later
It is hard to imagine that all it took was one solid month of care for Wulfgar’s life to completely change. He was nowhere as shy or skittish as when they had first welcomed him into their home.
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This goes to show just how important it is for us humans to care for these abandoned animals and while it is not easy by any means, looking at Wulfgar healthy and happy makes it worth it.
New Favourite Activities
As we mentioned already, Wulfgar loved the dog park but that wasn’t all, he also loved riding in the car! A good thing considering how many Vet appointments the couple had to initially take the poor husky to!
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He still loves napping though! Although not as much! “if there was one thing in the world that Wulfgar loved more than making friends and riding in the car, though, it must have been taking naps!” wrote the couple.
Still Changing Every Day
With each passing day, Wulfgar gets more and more healthy and learns to find new things he loves to do. In this picture, you can see that his hair has even begun to turn almost black.
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The owner notes that “you can really see how his coat darkened in this picture. I’m hoping this is just a winter coat because I loved his red colouring before.” Also, they claim that “he loves going into the backyard. He likes to sit and observe the other people in the neighbourhood”
Doing His Own Thing
On this image, the owners commented “I COULD stand like a normal dog but… meh.” We love that caption which truly shows that the couple considers Wulfgar to be family and have started to understand his goofy personality.
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Even make fun of it a little! Also, apparently, he also loves tiles and prefers to sleep on them more than soft blankets. Maybe he is used to sleeping on the hard floor on the streets? But it seems that this habit is sticking around for good!
The Final Transformation
After only a few months, the couple noted that everything from his mannerisms to his appearance have undergone a significant transformation and they couldn’t be happier about their decision to adopt him.
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On this picture, the owners commented, “my favourite picture of him. He’s now a happy, healthy, spoiled dog, and we love him and all the fur he leaves on our clothes.” To think that such a gentle dog once was abused by humans is heartbreaking for us.
Importance Of Adoption
We know for a fact that this couple is happier than ever, now that they have Wulfgar in their lives and while it wasn’t easy for them to train and treat Wulfgar, they wouldn’t change anything about what happened or how it happened.
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Wulfgar’s story and speedy recovery is proof that more and more people should adopt animals rather than shop for them. While an argument can be made for both, it is imperative that people try to adopt before they shop.