A lot can change in a month when an entire community decides to root for one dog. Over on @noatherescuedoodle, followers have been keeping up with Dodge, a rescue dog whose story has struck a chord far beyond Oklahoma, and the latest update has people celebrating right alongside him. For years, Dodge adapted to life with a jaw injury that left his mouth nearly closed, figuring out how to eat, drink, play, and simply be a dog in unique ways. Now, thanks to a successful surgery and plenty of support, this video of the rescue dog is showing something fans have been hoping to see for a long time: real progress.
Rescue dog living with a closed mouth gets the help he needs
Dodge’s struggles started when he was just an eight-week-old puppy and was attacked by another dog. The incident left him with a severe jaw injury that never healed properly. But he somehow adapted by learning to eat and drink through a tiny gap on the side of his mouth. He even learned to pick up his favorite toys using just his lips.
His handlers had to keep his exercise strictly limited because his locked jaw prevented him from panting to cool down. But he still retained his goofy personality, even sneakily stealing things off the counter when nobody was looking.
Route 66 Pet Rescue stepped in to save him and knew they had to get him medical help. He quickly became a total local celebrity, and a wave of online donations poured in to fund his specialized surgery. On April 14th, he traveled to Oklahoma City for the big operation. And right on his very first night of recovery, he shocked everyone by immediately gnawing on a bone.
The heartwarming rescue dog video absolutely exploded across social media, racking up over 134k likes from people who love supporting a brave rescue dog. Dodge still has a journey ahead of him, including dental work and physical rehab therapy, but he is finally experiencing what life should really be like.
Commenters are completely emotional over the rescue dog video. One viewer mentioned they were crying happy tears for him, while another described him as the most gorgeous, gentle boy who deserves the absolute best.
