Dog Who Was Nearly Euthanized Won't Let Go Of His Stuffed Animal

Smokey was adopted as a young puppy by a family who showered him with lots of toys.

But his favorite was a stuffed elephant with big ears.

Although he could have easily torn it to pieces in minutes, he was always very gentle with it.

He even took it with him on walks and slept with it every night.

Smokey lived in a loving family until he was five years old, but then everything changed.

Smokey's family faces challenges

Smokey's family was struggling and had to move to a smaller house because they didn't have enough money.

Despite their love for Smokey, the family struggled to care for him.

They could not afford to feed him properly and soon realized they could no longer keep him.

Farewell to Smokey

With pain in their hearts, Smokey's family made the difficult decision to turn him over to a shelter.

Smokey was devastated. He felt sad and lost without his family.

At the shelter, Smokey was scared and anxious.

He missed his home and his family terribly.

All he could do was lie on his bed and firmly grasp his favorite stuffed elephant.

A glimmer of hope

Despite his sadness, Smokey's story caught the attention of some lovely people.

They worked hard to find a new home for him, but Smokey's behavior made that challenging.

He was scared and sometimes showed signs of aggression.

The shelter staff worried about Smokey's future.

They didn't want to put him to sleep, but they didn't know what else to do.

They had set a date for his euthanasia.

A happy ending for Smokey

Fortunately, the organization I Have a Dream came to help.

They found a foster home for Smokey where he felt safe and loved.

Over time, Smokey's anxiety disappeared and he became a playful and happy dog again.

Smokey still loved walking around with his stuffed elephant.

He was no longer depressed, which was a very good sign of recovery from his trauma.

Although it was a little premature, the Ohio rescue organization signed him up for adoption and posted his story in hopes it would increase his chances.

After seeing his picture on the Internet, a sweet family came and took Smokey to his new home where he can learn how to enjoy life again.

Smokey has been through so much and he deserves someone who understands and cares for him.