A dog named Jackson almost ended up in a kill shelter when his owner of 11 years was told she had to spend time in hospital for cancer treatment and had no one to leave him with. However, something amazing then happened to him.
In a post shared on TikTok on Tuesday, under the username @houseofrescuedogs, a dog groomer and rescuer who then ended up taking Jackson in said how she heard of the pup. She also posted what led to her taking care of him until his owner was out of hospital and ready to bring her pet back home.
The poster, Emily, told Newsweek: "The shelter called me and asked me if we would foster him until she got out of the hospital. This was the first case I've ever seen like that. I agreed. Jackson's owner brought him over, and I could immediately tell how much she loved him."
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Emily's post read: "Two months ago, I got a call from the shelter. A lady was surrendering her dog of 11 years due to having to go to the hospital and not having anyone to watch him, and no money to board him. She was distraught. Jackson was her best friend, and a kill shelter with 200-plus dogs is not a place for a senior dog.
"So I took him and fostered him for two months, until she was able to get out of the hospital and get him back," the post added.
At the end of the clip, Jackson and his owner reunite after two long months separated, and they both can't hide their excitement to finally be in each other's arms and paws again.
Jackson's owner never stopped worrying about him, despite her health struggles. While in hospital, she kept sending the poster appreciative messages, thanking her for taking care of her precious pup at this vulnerable time.
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"Be the change you want to see in the world. This lady had no family, friends, or money to board her dog while in the hospital. This is the first foster I've had like this, and let me tell you, it was so rewarding," read a caption shared along with the emotional clip.
Emily said of Jackson's owner: "She wrote me every day, asking about him, and I sent her updates. She ended up having to stay in the hospital for a little over two months. During that time, we treated Jackson like one of ours. He was such a pleasure to take care of, very laid back, and slept a lot.
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"The reunion was so heartwarming. We had no idea Jackson could run and jump around like that. He was so happy to see her again. There were no dry eyes in the room," she added.
Emily said she believes that the updates and pictures of Jackson really helped his owner recover, and is glad that she took him in when he needed it most.
"The Tulsa Animal Welfare has over 200 dogs; surrendering a senior dog to that shelter doesn't usually turn out to be a good outcome.
"We tend to think of every person who surrenders a dog, as a terrible person. In most cases, that is true, but in some cases, like this one, all that was needed was someone to open their home and show some compassion," Emily added.
@houseofrescuedogs Be the change you want to see in the world❤️ This lady had no family, friends, or money to board her dog while in the hospital. This is the first foster I've had like this, and let me tell you, it was so rewarding. #bethechange #fosterdog #helppeople #dogsofttiktok #dogsvideo
♬ Waiting On The World To Change - Kevin Ross
Each year, 6.3 million pets enter U.S. shelters, which is an average of 17,260 a day, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The number of dogs and cats taken in by pet shelters hit 46,807 during January 2023, an increase of 1,744 compared with January 2022, the 24Pet 'Shelter Watch Report' found.
Around 920,000 surrendered animals are euthanized every year. Shelters are striving to minimize euthanasia rates by promoting adoption campaigns, spaying and neutering programs, and behavior rehabilitation.
These numbers show that more and more foster parents are needed to save these innocent pups' lives. Pet wellness experts at Rover say that, if you have the space, time, and desire to, the easiest way to get started fostering is to connect with a reputable rescue group, which you can find on Petfinder and the ASPCA.
"You'll also find a list of shelters and rescue groups in your area with a simple web search. Many rescues publish their foster requirements online, and you may even be able to apply online as well," the website added.
"But do your research before you commit. Reach out to the facility, either through a video call or the phone, and try to talk to other foster parents that have worked with the organization before."
The video quickly went viral on social media, getting viewers from across TikTok. It has so far received more than 5,000 views and nearly 1,000 likes on the platform.
One user, Priscilla Zink, commented: "Best thing I saw all day. I couldn't imagine having to do that when so sick. you were an angel."
Everything was Magenta wrote: "May your pillow always be cool, may your pizza never burn your mouth, may your path be free of Legos, may your lights be green, may you never stub your toe."
Trixiebel39760 added: "Oh my gosh what a great story with a happy ending."
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
