At this time one year ago Scooby was living on the street, sleeping on the sidewalk and eating whatever he could find. He was covered in tumors, had broken teeth with exposed roots, terrible allergies that left him practically bald in some places and bright pink in others, and he suffered from an extremely painful spinal infection that would have proved fatal within just a few weeks if left untreated.

Yet despite the pain, when I met him the first thing he did was climb up my legs to give me kisses. I gently lifted him into the back of my car and he quickly curled up in the bed that was there just for him. And home we went.

Today Scooby feels great and is pain free. He lives large and he eats well. The bald patches have grown hair and the bright pink patches are healed. Tumors have been removed and the spinal infection was knocked out after a month of heavy-duty meds.

He spends his days at daycare, enjoys swimming in the therapy pool, loves going for walks in the park and rolling around on the grass scratching his back. And he gets regular massage for those 18 year-old achy joints. He’s happy and smiling and loves to nap. And he will do pretty much anything for a treat.

Here’s to you, Scooby…happy birthday, my friend. I love you! Larry Chusid
Sit. Stay. Eat. Live. www.thepongofund.org

Photo Credit: Pauline Zonneveld www.paulinephotography.com