Owning a dog is a really big commitment. You have to make sure that you’re up for the challenge to take care of this creature just like taking care of your own child. No matter what happens, your dog deserves to be loved and cared for.
However, this was not the case for Gemma, a white German Shepherd. When she started losing some fur and started having a very oily coat, her hoomans never brought her to the vet. When things got worse, they abandoned her and left her at a shelter.
Eventually, St. Bonnie’s Sanctuary, a rescue group based in Canyon, California, met Gemma and pulled her out of the shelter. They took her under their care and were determined to help her. The doggo’s condition was so severe that she was always in pain.
When the staff bathed her, they had to sedate Gemma just so they could remove all the oil and the scabs. They really had to clean her thoroughly so they can see what was underneath. Then they found out that Gemma has demodectic mange which is caused by mites.
The pooch needed around-the-clock care and had to take a bath two to three times a day. And since Jolene, the adoption counselor at St. Bonnie’s grew really close to Gemma, she decided to take her home as a foster.
After a few months of staying in her foster home, Gemma started recovering. Her skin was healing, the fur was growing back, and she even started to gain a lot of weight. They wanted to know what was causing the big weight gain so they brought Gemma to the vet and found out that she was actually pregnant!
Eventually, Gemma gave birth to five healthy puppies. This is when the sanctuary realized that they were able to save more than just one life. The pups got adopted really quickly but Gemma still had to stay behind to finish her medications before getting adopted.
It wasn’t hard for Gemma to get adopted because of her cheerful and sweet personality. Her new hooman, Janet, loves her so much and is happy to provide a warm and loving home for this doggo. Gemma also gets to play a lot with Janet’s son who is the doggo’s new best friend. Finally, Gemma found her forever family.
Video Credit: PAWsitive
