Emaciated Pit Bull refused to eat in his final days — then his owner made one last desperate move that saved him

'He was just in complete shutdown,' the dog owner expressed.

PUBLISHED 5 HOURS AGO

(L) A sweet dog eats a treat, (R) A sad Brown Pitbull Terrier dog lying next to woman. (Representative Cover Image Source: Getty Images | (L) sanjagrujic, (R) Vera Vita)

When rescuers found a dangerously thin Pit Bull abandoned in a homeless encampment, they had little hope of him surviving. A kind pet owner took him in to give him his best final days, but was unable to get him to eat, further risking his chance of living a healthy life. In a heartwarming video shared by The Dodo (@TheDodo) on YouTube, the pet owner opened up about her efforts and the emaciated Pittie’s health journey that made every person believe there’s light at the end of the tunnel.

Relaxed White Pitbull Lying Indoors. (Representative Image Source: Pexels | Kelly) — Sick White Pitbull Lying Indoors. (Representative Image Source: Pexels | Kelly)

“He was just in complete shutdown,” the dog owner expressed, showing the white Pit Bull lying weak on the floor. The owner, Heather, and her husband tried to cheer him up with love and laughter at their home in Hawaii, but the pup barely responded. He refused to eat and could not get himself up at times, requiring the owner’s presence. She even carried him to the bathroom and outdoors. “He had every parasite you could imagine. This was a hospice situation,” she said. Noting the Pittie’s condition, the owner was positive that he was at the end of life, but did not lose hope.

A couple with a pitbull dog. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images| Photo by Aleksandar Jankovic) — A couple with a pitbull dog. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Aleksandar Jankovic)

Heather had rescued the dog to give him the best life possible in his final moments. “I just let him know that I was there and I needed him to fight,” the owner revealed. To her surprise, the Pit Bull showed her that he had similar intentions. Slowly and steadily, the rescue pup showed signs of recovery, walking to the living room by himself to join the rest of the family. Fortunately, the dog’s condition seemed to improve, but one challenge remained—food. He still did not eat much, which showed in his skinny frame. One day, the owner noticed the Pittie gobbling up rotisserie chicken. “We were like, ‘Score!’” Months of hard work had paid off, and it raised hopes of his survival.

A young girl holding a pitbull (Representative Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Sneksy) — A young girl holding a pitbull. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Sneksy)

“And if that’s what he would eat, that’s what he got,” Heather noted. It was the turning point in the dog’s journey. The video showed the Pittie growing healthier and finishing off bowls of food. He also began enjoying the outdoors and showing interest in the world around him. The rescue pup who once could not stand on his feet was now playfully chasing the owner’s husband in their backyard. He played, ate, received, and gave back love and affection. “He wasn’t surviving, he was thriving!” she exclaimed. The dog owner was thrilled about the dog's miraculous survival and marked him as a “hero” for keeping up the good fight.

The post with 466,000 views struck a chord with several people on the internet. “He had completely given up, and this family's love made him realize life was worth fighting for. Good stuff right there,” wrote @jesseashmore8426 and @pennylane8318 lauded, “You guys are heroes for rescuing him. What a beautiful thing to see how love transformed him back to life!”

You can follow @TheDodo on YouTube for more videos.