Abandoned Senior Dog Makes Full Recovery, Finds Forever Home

Senior dogs have a much harder time being adopted, and for one dog in Arizona, those chances seemed all but gone after being abandoned and left for dead in a canal. But in a heartwarming change of fate, Dorothea the Chihuahua mix has made a complete recovery and found a new home with a loving family. 

A news release from the Arizona Humane Society recounted Dorothea's story over the past few months. She was first found by AHS officials back in June when someone called them informing them of a dog in distress laying on top of a shopping cart in the middle of a canal.

AHS and fire department authorities quickly sprang into action to rescue the sweet dog. They used a ladder and a combination of AHS rescue devices to get Dorothea to safety and expressed her excitement upon being rescued with a wagging tail. She was promptly treated by medical professionals in the AHS ambulance after they found her to be dehydrated, hungry, covered in ticks, and reeking of canal water. 

 "If not for the quick actions of an AHS Emergency Animal Medical Technician and the Phoenix Fire Department, Dorothea would have little to no chance of survival," the organization said. 

The sweet 10-year-old dog was found to only have minor injuries including some fractured teeth that needed to be removed. She remained at the shelter for a few weeks before finding her forever family in Youngtown, Arizona. 

If you're looking to welcome a new pet in your family, consider adopting one of the millions of animals in shelters with heart-wrenching stories just like Dorothea's.