“He looks so much happier …” 🥹
Earlier this year, the staff at Austin Pets Alive! (APA!) welcomed a rescue pup named Squishapotamus, who was unlike any other resident at the shelter. While most of the dogs could relate to the neglect that led Squishapotamus, also known as Squish, to the shelter, there was one thing that made the pit bull mix stand out from the rest.
“He was a little over 100 [pounds],” Jess Prosser, dog care lead at APA!, told The Dodo. “He was extremely overweight.”
Squish’s stature immediately concerned the staff, who worried that his weight was causing him pain. His unpredictable response to being touched confirmed their fears.
“You could tell that he did not feel well,” Prosser said. “His back legs were giving out when he tried to walk, and he had some moments where he was getting defensive with being pet. I believe the defensiveness was due to being uncomfortable.”
Squish struggled to accept the love that his caregivers at APA! had to give, but that didn’t stop them from giving him the best care. They knew the sweet boy could have a long, happy life ahead of him if he lost a significant amount of weight.
They quickly started him on a meal plan, eliminating treats from his diet and managing his portion sizes daily. Then, he started exercising more.
“We would also do very short walks with him because he could only walk for about 5 minutes at a time,” Prosser said. “I would also give him coconut massages because his skin was in such poor condition. He had lots of patches of dry skin.”
After weeks of following a strict routine, Squish began to slim down, and his personality started to blossom.
“What has been most memorable is watching his transformation. You could see changes both physically and behaviorally,” Prosser said. “He slowly started to get more energy. He went from not even being able to walk for 5 minutes to now he can go off campus and on the trail. He also feels better and has more people in his handler pool.”
When Squish first arrived at APA!, he seemed particularly fearful of and defensive towards men. But once he started losing weight and feeling better, his demeanor changed.
“We have not seen any defensiveness since his weight loss,” Prosser said. “He looks so much happier, too.”
You can see more of Squish’s transformation here:
Five months later, Squish has lost 45 pounds and is officially ready for adoption. His devoted caregivers at APA! will miss having him around, but they’re so excited for Squish to find a loving family.
As Squish’s case manager and resident best friend, Prosser knows just what to look out for when searching for his perfect home.
“An adult household would be best for him. I also think that he should be the only dog,” Prosser said. “He does go to our dog playgroup sessions, but he enjoys people time more than anything.”
Squish has grown to love people, and he can’t wait to find his own soon. Now that he’s feeling better, Squish is enjoying every day to the fullest, and his friends like Prosser are comforted knowing that the best is yet to come.
“I want people to know that he just has so much love to give. This poor kiddo was neglected, obese and unhappy when he first came to APA!. Now, every time I take him to a yard, all he wants to do is snuggle and get pets,” Prosser said. “He is a great companion. This might sound cheesy, but every time I see him, he makes me smile.”