With over a million subreddits for all specific types of communities, Reddit has a lot to offer. Especially for us dog lovers, a subreddit called “BeforeNAfterAdoption” allows rescuers and dog parents to share stories behind their adoptions. Naturally, all of these photos and videos are heartwarming, a nice reminder of why we love saving animals.
Graham Whatmough, or he is known on Reddit “u/WhereTheHighwayEnds” shared a beautiful video of his dog Willow happily enjoying the outdoors with the page. You would never be able to tell that she had such a difficult past before they met. This cheerful, outdoor pup was once found starving and motionless in the woods. Her meeting with the person who saved her was just fate.
Unusual discovery in the forest
Four years ago, Whatmough quit his job at the oilfield to pursue his passion a freelance photographer and videographer. He spends a lot of time outdoors exploring beautiful places. One day, he discovered something a little different while walking through the woods.
Whatmough usually takes the same path through these forests, but today he decided to take a different path. When he stopped to take pictures of some of the berries he found, he noticed something else.
“I just took a few more steps and I saw a fallen tree and a white animal lying behind it. I think it must be a small deer or a coyote hiding because it doesn’t move or make any sound. Then I saw a pink necklace and realized it was a dog.”
Earn Woods Pup’s Trust
At first, the dog manifests signs of fear aggression, bared his teeth and growled. Whatmough didn’t get closer than 15 feet to her, lest she run away. He threw her some of the fruit he had picked, the only food he had to offer. To his pleasant surprise, she ate the berries and even wagged her tail a little. He also offered her some water from his bottle, which she drank quickly, so he returned with more water from his truck.
Considering her willingness to trust, Whatmough assumed she was a runaway or lost dog. She looks only a few months old.
“I still think she was just a fugitive and maybe dehydrated and a little hungry. The berries and water have allowed me to get close enough to her to start scratching her snout and she really loves it.”
Although she seemed a little more friendly, Whatmough noticed the dog didn’t seem to want to move much. There’s definitely something wrong with her hind legs.
“Now that she was warm, I coaxed her to get up and walk. I saw her walking almost entirely on her front legs, at times both her hind legs seemed to touch the ground. I still think she might just need food and exercise after being stuck in the woods for a while. “
Before long, Whatmough would learn that both of the dog’s hind legs were broken, and as a result it began to heal improperly. Her condition doesn’t look too good.
The road to recovery
Whatmough took the dog to the vet for treatment and x-rays. They determined that she would need to have her leg amputated or she would have expensive and risky surgery. Meanwhile, no one came to claim the poor girl.
At first, Whatmough wasn’t sure what to do. He wants a dog, but is he ready to care for one with the many physical challenges ahead of her? Can he even afford that kind of care?
“When the vet started listing my options as amputation, very expensive surgery, or handing her over to the law enforcement where she would most likely die, I decided to take care of her. At least until I find someone who can adopt her.
When he shared an update about the dog he found in the woods, people started investing. Whatmough explains that his community has donated to help pay for the surgery. They were able to make $4000 in just one day!
That’s how he knew, there was no way he could give up this dog.
“After seeing how my community rallied around her with donations and had her for a few days, I knew I wouldn’t be able to give her up.”
He named the jackal Willow, fittingly. Every day, Whatmough stretches Willow’s legs and takes her for walks. There were times when she thought she was struggling, but he regretted not having operated on her. But brave Willow weathered his difficult recovery.
“She would also show signs of discomfort when I stretched and pulled her legs back but I always stopped and then she would let me stretch her legs further. She was less and less resistant and now she doesn’t seem to mind at all as I really tug and work to stretch her.”
A family having outdoor activities together
Willow didn’t let her past experiences keep her from wandering the woods. She and Whatmough spend all their time together, especially now that he works from home.
“I hike 2-6 hours a day outdoors in the summer and winter and she loves it all. She really loves snow but after about 4 hours at -30C she started trying to get her feet out of the snow and find shelter and I knew it was time to go home. “
For a dog with broken and deformed hind legs, Willow now runs like an absolute champ!
The story of Willow and Graham reminds us that every dog is worth it, and that sometimes fate pushes us on the right dog path. Here’s wishing them a lifetime of happiness together!
Watch the Reddit video below:
Here’s a video of me walking a dog that I found malnourished in the woods… When I took him to the vet, I found that both of his rear femurs were badly broken and started to get shorter by about approx. one inch above normal. I adopted her and after a lot of hard work and exercise here, Willow arrived today 🙂 are from BeforeNAfterAdoption
H/T: Reddit
Featured pictures:@ GWhatmough / Facebook
