Some animals arrive at shelters in heartbreaking condition, but with a little love their lives can totally turn around.
That was the case for one neglected dog, who was found nearly starving to death, but in the weeks since has been making incredible strides.
In September, the South Suburban Humane Society, in Illinois, took in a severely emaciated dog named Pumpkin. He was first found by a local resident who thought he was dying and brought him to the police.
Emily Klehm, CEO of the South Suburban Humane Society, told Newsweek that while they rescue many dogs, Pumpkin’s was an “extreme case” that left them speechless. “He was severely emaciated and unable to walk,” she said.
Photos show how unbelievably thin the dog was — it’s a miracle he survived at all.
Vets administered fluids and shaved his matted fur. Despite the rough start, he started to perk up and went into foster care with one of the shelter employees.
“Thankfully, we got him into foster care, where he is starting to improve and stand on his own again,” the shelter wrote on Facebook. “His journey is still long, but we are incredibly proud of him so far.”
Updates from the shelter show the remarkable improvement Pumpkin has made in just a short time. While he was unable to stand when they first found him, he can now walk around the yard on his own, wagging his tail
“This little man is so strong and getting better every single day,” the shelter wrote.
Though he’s still visibly thin, he has been slowly regaining weight. “This little man is progressing, and we cannot wait to see how much more he continues to improve!” South Suburban Humane Society wrote.
Pumpkin’s backstory is still unclear, but the shelter says he will be placed up for adoption once he gets medical clearance.
“Pumpkin will need a home that understands that he was severely neglected,” Klehm told Newsweek. “He doesn’t know how to be a dog, so everything from leash walking to toys are all new experiences for him. An experienced dog family would be best.”
In the meantime, he’s doing well and loves his foster home.
It’s heartbreaking that Pumpkin was neglected for so long, but we’re so glad he’s doing well and regaining weight — we hope he finds a forever home soon when he’s ready!
Please share this story if you love dogs!
My Teen Son Organized a Big Surprise for My New Wife’s Birthday Party, but She Suddenly Uninvited Him—Her Reason Shocked Me
My son planned a beautiful surprise party for my wife’s birthday, hoping to make her feel special. But just hours before the celebration, she told him not to come, and her cruel reason left me questioning everything about our marriage.
I never thought I’d find love again.
A sad man on his couch | Source: Pexels
When my first wife passed away, it felt like my world had collapsed. For years, it was just me and my son, Joey. He was quiet, thoughtful—a boy who kept his feelings tucked away. But we understood each other.
Then I met Anna.
A laughing woman | Source: Pexels
She was full of life, always talking, always laughing. She had a daughter, Lily, who was just like her—loud, confident, and impatient. They were so different from Joey and me, but I thought maybe that was a good thing. Maybe we could balance each other out.
At first, things seemed fine. Anna and Lily moved in, and we started acting like a family. But Joey was slow to adjust. He stayed quiet at dinner, barely spoke when Lily teased him, and spent more time in his room.
An arrogant woman | Source: Pexels
Anna didn’t understand.
“He barely says a word,” she said one evening. “How can we bond if he won’t even try?”
“He’s trying,” I said. “He just needs time.”
Lily groaned. “Why can’t he just act normal?”
“He is normal,” I snapped. “He’s just different from you.”
A couple arguing | Source: Pexels
Anna sighed. “We’re a family now. He needs to open up.”
I asked them to be patient. They promised they would. But they weren’t.
Lily would roll her eyes when Joey stayed quiet during family game nights. Anna would push him into conversations he wasn’t ready for. They expected him to change overnight, but that’s not how Joey worked.
Still, he wanted to belong.
A sad boy in a black hoodie | Source: Pexels
One night, Joey came into the kitchen while I was cleaning up.
“Dad?” His voice was hesitant.
I turned around. “What’s up, buddy?”
“I, um… I planned something for Anna’s birthday,” he said, shifting from foot to foot.
I smiled. “Oh yeah?”
A father talking to his son | Source: Pexels
He nodded. “I know you were just gonna do dinner. But she likes surprises. And she always talks to her friends a lot, so… I invited them too. And her family.”
I blinked. “You organized a whole party?”
Joey shrugged, looking down. “Yeah. I thought it’d make her happy.”
My chest tightened.
A smiling man | Source: Pexels
“You did all this by yourself?”
“Mostly,” he said. “I asked Lily what kind of cake Anna likes, but she just said ‘chocolate, obviously’ and walked away.” He hesitated. “I didn’t tell Anna. I wanted it to be special.”
I put a hand on his shoulder. “That’s incredible, Joey. She’s gonna love it.”
“You think so?”
A smiling man talking to his son | Source: Midjourney
“I know so.”
He let out a small breath, like he’d been holding it in. “Could you pick up flowers tomorrow? I don’t know which ones to get.”
“Of course,” I said, squeezing his shoulder. “I’m proud of you, kid.”
Joey gave me a small, almost shy smile before nodding and heading back to his room.
A smiling boy against a blue backdrop | Source: Pexels
I stood there for a long moment, my heart full. My son, who barely spoke, had planned something so thoughtful. He wanted to show Anna he cared, even when she and Lily didn’t always make him feel welcome.
I had no idea what was coming next.
A smiling man seated with his arms crossed | Source: Pexels
I stepped through the front door, the scent of fresh flowers filling the air. Joey’s surprise was set. The decorations were ready. The guests would arrive soon. I smiled, picturing Anna’s reaction—her wide-eyed joy, her laughter, the way she’d pull Joey into a hug, finally seeing how much he cared.
Then I heard her voice.
Sharp. Cold.
A startled man in glasses | Source: Midjourney
“You’re not coming to my party, Joey.”
I froze.
There was silence for a moment. Then, a soft, hesitant voice—Joey’s. “Why?”
I stepped forward quietly, staying just out of sight. My heart pounded in my chest.
A man eavesdropping | Source: Midjourney
Anna let out a short sigh, impatient. “Because you don’t fit in. You’ll just sit there looking uncomfortable, and I don’t want to deal with that. Not in front of my family.”
My fingers tightened around the flowers.
“I—I can talk to people,” Joey said, his voice barely above a whisper. “I was going to try.”
A concerned teenage boy | Source: Freepik
Anna laughed like he had said something ridiculous. “Please, Joey. You barely talk to us. You think you’re suddenly going to be chatty and charming in front of a room full of people? That’s what your dad was talking about, right? I heard him.”
“I’ll do my best,” Joey said quickly.
“You always say that,” Anna replied. “But it’s never enough. Look, just stay home. It’s not a big deal.”
Not a big deal.
A woman in a red sweater holding her finger up | Source: Pexels
I clenched my jaw, rage rising in my chest. Then she said the words that made my blood run cold.
“I don’t even know why you want to be there. I’m not your mom.”
Silence.
Then, Lily snickered. “Yeah, Joey. It’s not like you’re really family.”
A woman with an evil snicker | Source: Midjourney
Joey didn’t respond. I could picture his face falling, his hands clenched at his sides, his eyes cast downward like he was trying to disappear.
Something inside me snapped.
I stepped into the room. “Joey. Lily. Go to your rooms.”
An angry man | Source: Pexels
They all turned to look at me. Anna’s face paled. Joey hesitated, glancing at me, then at Anna. He swallowed hard and walked away without a word. Lily followed, less eager but smart enough not to argue.
Now it was just us.
Anna tried to force a smile. “What’s wrong with you? Why are you acting like this?”
I took a slow breath, gripping the flowers so tightly the stems nearly snapped. “Joey planned the entire celebration.”
An angry man holding flowers | Source: Midjourney
Her mouth opened slightly.
“He invited everyone. He organized everything. He wanted to show you how much he cares about you. This was his gift to you.”
She blinked. “I—I didn’t know.”
“No, you didn’t,” I said coldly. “Because you never took the time to know him. You never listened. You never gave him a chance.”
A serious man in his living room | Source: Midjourney
Anna shook her head, flustered. “I was just—”
“You were just making sure your night was perfect,” I interrupted. “And you threw away the best part of it.”
She crossed her arms, defensive. “I didn’t mean it like that.”
“But you said it anyway,” I shot back. “You made my son feel like an outsider in his own home. And I won’t let that happen again.”
A man arguing with his wife | Source: Midjourney
She frowned. “So what? You’re mad because I told the truth? Joey’s quiet. He’s awkward. It’s not my fault he doesn’t fit in.”
I stared at her, my anger shifting into something sharper. Colder.
“You don’t deserve him,” I said, my voice low.
Anna’s eyes widened. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me.”
A shocked woman | Source: Freepik
For the first time, she looked nervous. “Look, let’s just calm down. We can talk about this later. The party’s in an hour—”
“There is no party,” I said. “Not for you. Not in this house.”
She scoffed. “You’re not serious.”
I met her gaze. “You need to leave.”
Anna’s jaw dropped.
A shocked woman in a red sweater | Source: Pexels
“You don’t get to humiliate my son and stay in this house like nothing happened,” I said. “Pack your things. You’re done here.”
Her face twisted with anger. “So you’re throwing me out over this? Over a stupid misunderstanding?”
“This wasn’t a misunderstanding,” I said firmly. “This was you showing me exactly who you are.”
She opened her mouth, then closed it, searching for an argument. But there was nothing left to say.
“You’re making a huge mistake,” she muttered.
A frowning woman with her arms crossed | Source: Pexels
I didn’t even look at her. “No. I’m finally fixing one.”
She let out a frustrated huff and stormed off toward the bedroom. I stood there, the flowers still in my hand, listening to her slam drawers and shove things into a suitcase.
When she came back out, Lily stood at the top of the stairs, watching. Anna paused in the doorway, gripping the handle of her suitcase.
“You’ll regret this,” she said bitterly.
An angry woman with a suitcase | Source: Midjourney
I didn’t respond. With one last glare, she turned and walked out the door. The house was silent.
Then, a soft voice. “Dad?”
I turned. Joey stood at the bottom of the stairs, his face unreadable.
“Did I do something wrong?” he asked quietly.
My chest ached. I set the flowers down on the table and walked over to him.
A bouguet of flowers on a table | Source: Freepik
“No, buddy,” I said gently. “You did everything right.”
His shoulders slumped. “But she—”
“She didn’t deserve your kindness,” I said. “But that doesn’t mean it was wrong for you to give it.”
He swallowed hard, his lip quivering. I put a hand on his shoulder, squeezing gently. “I’m so proud of you, Joey. You hear me?”
A father talking to his son | Source: Midjourney
He gave a small nod. I pulled him into a tight hug, holding on just a little longer than usual.
“You and me, kid,” I murmured. “That’s all we need.”
He nodded against my chest, his small fingers clutching the back of my shirt.
And for the first time in a long time, I knew we were going to be okay.
A smiling man lifting his sunglasses from his face | Source: Pexels
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided as “is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
Leave a Reply