Some rescue stories begin with a happy dog. Chance’s began with a puppy who could barely recognize himself.
In September, The Animal Pad, a dog rescue in San Diego, received an urgent call from an emergency veterinarian.
A 7-month-old German shepherd puppy had arrived with a reported dog bite wound. But the bite was only part of the problem.
Chance’s face was severely swollen, and blood tests revealed chronic illnesses rarely seen in a dog so young.
His family had surrendered him to the clinic.
Then a rescue worker saw him.
Lauren, director of The Animal Pad, immediately stepped in to help. Chance was frightened, in pain, and in terrible condition.
Yet underneath everything he was going through, his rescuers could already see something special.
His personality was still there.
The rescue took Chance in and began stabilizing him.
Veterinary teams ran tests, trying to understand everything happening inside his fragile body.
Then came a major breakthrough.
After a blood transfusion and additional testing, Chance was diagnosed with an abscess in his face. It needed to be surgically drained.
The procedure was painstaking, but it worked.
Once the abscess was drained, the swelling finally went down.
Chance’s face returned to its normal size, and almost immediately, he seemed to feel better.
The puppy who had arrived looking almost unrecognizable suddenly looked like himself again.
But his recovery was far from finished.
His bloodwork still showed signs of chronic illness. He was also painfully skinny, leaving his caregivers concerned about what the future might hold.
They did not give up.
Instead, they gave Chance what he needed: medical treatment, proper care, patience, and plenty of love.
And slowly, the little dog began fighting his way back.
Months after his rescue, Chance had become noticeably stronger.
He moved into a foster home, where he discovered something he had probably needed for a long time: the chance to simply be a puppy.
He played with other dogs.
He cuddled with his humans.
Chance remained on a medical hold while his veterinary team continued treating his abscess and other ailments.
But his life had already changed.
Instead of lying sick and swollen in an emergency clinic, he was now surrounded by people who wanted to see him thrive.
For the first time, Chance could focus on being comfortable, cared for, and wanted, rather than fighting through each painful day.
Chance was no longer just surviving.
He was becoming a dog.
A happy one.
A loved one.
The Animal Pad’s director of marketing, Erica Fiore, described Chance as the sweetest dog.
That sweetness was there from the beginning, even when he was scared and hurting.
Chance never stopped being himself.
His body needed serious medical attention. His future was uncertain.
But underneath the swelling, illness, and fear was a puppy who still wanted affection, companionship, and a chance at life.
Now, he is waiting for the next chapter.
Once his medical care is complete, Chance will be available for adoption.
His rescuers hope the right family will eventually find him and give him the forever home he has been fighting toward.
Not long ago, Chance needed someone to save him.
Today, he is showing everyone what can happen when someone does.
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