Cloud, a senior Husky, spent his entire life tied to a heavy chain. He didn’t know how to act like a dog…
But then, fate intervened. Rescue workers in New Philadelphia, Pennsylvania responded to a call after a roof of a home being demolished collapsed. As they were surveying the property, they noticed Cloud, the Husky, tied out back.
Cloud appeared malnourished, skinny, and had a large mass on his back. He was surrounded by feces on the snowy ground, with an inadequate doghouse to keep him warm in freezing temperatures.
Fortunately, Pennsylvania now has a law, called Libre’s Law, which makes it a felony to leave dogs outside in the cold for more than 30 minutes. Hillside SPCA came to the scene and explained to the owners that they were breaking the law, leading to Cloud being surrendered to them.
Upon examination by the vets, they discovered that Cloud was deaf and the mass on his back was a perianal adenoma caused by failure to neuter. However, due to his age and safety concerns, they decided not to operate on him and put him on appropriate medications instead.
Life in the shelter was tough for Cloud, who wasn’t familiar with being indoors. He would pace around all day, feeling stressed. To help him, Tricia Moyer, assistant shelter manager at Hillside SPCA, reached out to Eleanor Garrett of Senior Dog Haven and Hospice to see if she could foster him.
Given that Cloud likely spent his entire life outside, he had trouble adapting to indoor living. Tricia described him as not acting like a dog at all, and just a mess. Eleanor decided to leave him alone for a while, and surprisingly, it seemed to help.
One day, while Eleanor was in the laundry room where Cloud was resting, he swiped at her foot with his paw as if asking to be petted. When she leaned down to pet him, he showered her with kisses.
Eleanor shared that after that moment, Cloud seemed to realize that they were friendly and safe. From that point on, Cloud became happy and relaxed, improving each day.
As time went on, Cloud discovered that he could go outside into Eleanor’s fenced-in yard, but he preferred the warmth, dryness, and comfort of the indoors.
Cloud’s six new furry friends in Eleanor’s home also helped him open up and relax.
Eventually, when Eleanor believed Cloud was ready, he met a couple who instantly fell in love with him and decided to adopt him.
Cloud reciprocated the love and made himself at home right away. The family even created a bucket list for Cloud, ensuring he experiences all the things he missed out on earlier.
He now enjoys frequent walks, has a comfortable orthopedic bed to sleep in, and will soon receive a doggie massage thanks to someone who heard about his rescue.
Cloud also has a new name, Titus, which fits perfectly with his newfound life as a beloved family dog.
