An “unwanted” puppy who was given away due to not being able to walk is now happy and healthy in a loving home.
Lily is a two-year-old Great Pyrenees that was born with mobility issues, and could only move around by awkwardly dragging herself using her front legs.
However, that has now changed thanks to the dedication of Tracy Fosterling, a woman from Florida who fosters rescue dogs and volunteers as a dog walker at her local shelter.
Tracy has described herself “girl with a zoo” as she has adopted five of her former foster and rescue dogs, including Lily. Tracy runs a popular TikTok account in which she documents the life of her “five spoiled dogs” and has explained how Lily came into her life.
In one popular video, Tracy said: “Lily was born with a condition where both of her knees were permanently dislocated. She couldn’t straighten her legs, so she walked with an arched back on her front two feet.
“I saw her being given away on Facebook at just six months old, unwanted because of her legs. So I picked her up immediately…she desperately needed help and vet care. We saw a specialist right away and our long journey began.”
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In an interview with Newsweek, Tracy said that Lily’s condition was at first a “sad sight to see” and that Tracy still finds it upsetting to look back on old videos of Lily, to the point that it makes her want to cry at how far Lily has come.
After Tracy brought Lily home, it was discovered that Lily would have to undergo a soft tissue reconstruction and a joint reconstruction if she was ever going to walk. After the surgeries, Lily could not move for months and Tracy had to carry her around. Some of the surgeries also failed, but Tracy did not give up.
Tracy said: “She was confined to a pen for several months, only getting in and out with me carrying her. This was essential to making sure the surgeries worked since her condition was so severe. Eventually, she was able to start using both knees on her own and straighten them fully.
“We did water rehab and a lot of other types, and thankfully it worked. The whole process was about one-and-a-half years. Sometimes I look at her and I can’t believe how far she’s come.”
Nowadays, Lily is able to run around and play with her adopted brothers and sisters, which Tracy has said makes her “so happy.”
Tracy said: “I wasn’t sure if I’d ever see the day when she was running and playing on her own, but now she is just like any other dog. She is a bit slower than the others and can’t run as long as they can, just because her knees will get sore, but she is fully independent and absolutely loves life.”
On Tracy’s social media, Lily can now be seen taking walks without assistance and being able to live a happy life without restraints, and Tracy even has videos of Lily digging holes and getting up to mischief like any other dog.
On TikTok, Tracy said: “We never gave up, did everything we could, even when people said it was ‘too much. It was so worth it to see her happy and healthy. I would do it all again for her.”
Lily’s story has been a tear-jerker for many social media users, who have praised Tracy for all the work she has done for her dog.
One user said: “Thank God for folks like you. What a wonderful outcome for a sweet baby.” Another person said: “This makes me happy! Thank you for not giving up on her!”
In the comment section, Tracy added that she was able to help Lily recover thanks to a non-profit organization dedicated to rehoming Pyrenees in the US.
Tracy wrote: “The National Great Pyrenees Rescue played a big part in helping us with Lily’s journey. Please visit their site and consider adopting.”
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