It may be hard to watch this viral video that shows the harsh reality of animal neglect. Harold was skin and bone when he was found wandering the streets in North Oshawa in Ontario, Canada. But now is thriving and just like any other puppy—thanks to his foster carer.
Kayleigh McGovern, a volunteer and team member at Oshawa Animal Services, decided to look after the emaciated dog who was too weak to even walk back in July. She documented his progress and shared a slideshow of images on her TikTok page.
Kathy Pittman-Feltham, the shelter manager told Newsweek: “Harold quickly captured all of our hearts and we were rooting for him to get healthy and find his forever home.”
In the viral video that has 791,800 views, @kayleigh_mcgovern added on-screen text to explain each image. She stated he spent the first three days in bed and he didn’t have the strength to empty his bladder.
She wrote: “We shared many cuddles, watched lots of shows, and most importantly he got lots of rest.”
One image shows Harold’s skeletal body as the on-screen text explains: “This picture is still so jarring to look at. He was examined at the vet for possible causes of his emaciation. The vets concluded the only thing wrong with him was that he was essentially starving to death.”
After a few days of tender love and care, Harold started to feel stronger and became playful. Now four months on, he is just like any other puppy.
Pittman-Feltham told Newsweek: “Kayleigh helped nurse him back to health and he was then adopted by a member of the community who is a second-time adopter from us.
“He is doing phenomenal and is the perfect picture of health.”
Harold’s remarkable transformation has touched the hearts of thousands of TikTok users. But sadly, his situation wasn’t a rare case.
Each year 6.3 million pets are surrendered to U.S. shelters, which is an average of 17,260 a day, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
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.
Pittman-Feltham told Newsweek: “We see many sad cases come through our doors and the team is always excited to be a part of the next chapter in their story as most times we don’t have any information on their past.
“We are hoping Harold’s story shines a light on the many cases across the rescue world that need our help.
“Fostering saves lives and Harold is a perfect example of that!“
A little puppy in despair calls out in agony among the wreckage, pleading for help.
On a routine animal rescue mission, our team stumbled upon a heartbreaking scene: a tiny puppy buried in rubble, wailing in distress. Our hearts ached for this innocent soul, and we knew we had to act quickly to save him. As we pushed away the rocks, we found another puppy, also crying out for help. The ongoing construction and careless actions of society had placed these fragile lives in danger.
Our team felt the immense weight of responsibility as we frantically dug through the rubble, searching for the other puppy. Each passing moment was crucial, as the puppies’ lives hung in the balance. The team worked tirelessly, determined to save these innocent creatures from their dangerous predicament.
When we finally found the second puppy, our hearts broke at the sight of his weak and fragile state. We gently lifted them out of the rubble, praying that they would survive their ordeal. The emotional rescue mission was a testament to the importance of never giving up on the vulnerable beings who share our world.
The rescue of the two puppies is a powerful reminder of the importance of compassion in our society. The careless actions of human beings can have devastating consequences for the innocent animals who live among us. It is our collective responsibility to ensure the safety and well-being of these creatures and to protect them from harm.
Once the puppies were safely rescued, our team began the process of nursing them back to health. Under our care, the puppies received medical attention, proper nutrition, and the love and comfort they so desperately needed. The road to recovery was long and challenging, but each day brought signs of hope and progress.
As the puppies grew stronger, our team turned their attention to finding them loving, forever homes. The two puppies, now named Hope and Courage, were eventually adopted by kind-hearted families who promised to provide them with the love and care they deserved. The emotional rescue mission was a life-changing experience for all involved, and Hope and Courage’s story serves as an inspiration for us all.
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