In late March 2023, a homeless dog named Sonny was picked up as a stray by the Jackson County Animal Shelter (JCAS). At the time of his rescue, both his body and spirit were shattered. Sonny’s ears were previously clipped, his nails were overgrown, his coat was patchy and he was positive for heartworm. Despite the mistreatment he had endured, he didn’t hold any resentment and was full of love.
The staff at JCAS immediately began treating Sonny, and he started improving a little each day. As he started to feel better, his caregivers learned just how affectionate he was. Every time someone would kneel down to his level, Sonny would gently bury his head into their chest and stay there for as long as possible. He just wanted to hug everyone and show them how grateful he was for being rescued.
Sonny’s caregivers at JCAS were amazed at how grateful and loving he was, given his mistreatment. He was always ready to dish out the warmest hugs, and his caregivers could feel how thankful he was to have been saved. Despite his loving spirit, Sonny keeps being looked over for adoption because of his not-so-perfect exterior.
As devastating as it is to watch their beloved pup be ignored by adoptive families, JCAS staff knows he will find a home soon enough. They are looking for a perfect match for Sonny, someone who has as gentle and loving a spirit as he does, so they could share that every day. And he will be the perfect addition to any family willing to adopt him.
Sonny’s friends at JCAS are comforted by the fact that a Good Samaritan has already covered his adoption fees, and the shelter is willing to pay 100 percent for his heartworm treatment as soon as he finds a home. The only thing that Sonny needs is to find his perfect match, and he will be ready for his new family.
Until that time, Sonny’s caregivers will keep soaking up his affection one hug at a time. To them, Sonny is extra special, and they’ve cared for countless dogs in the past. As one caregiver put it, “To meet Sonny is to love him. And the overwhelming love he has to share after being so neglected is incredible. He’s just so sweet.”
In conclusion, Sonny, the grateful shelter dog, thanks all his rescuers with loving hugs. His story shows that we should never judge a dog by his fur or appearance. Sometimes, the most loving and grateful animals are the ones who have suffered the most. Hopefully, Sonny will find his perfect match soon, and he will be able to share his loving spirit with his new family every day.
