Neglected Senior Dog Runs Away From Home and Finds Loving Family

An unwanted, neglected senior dog decided to run away from home and found himself a better life. Stank was discovered walking along a rural road by a young couple, who brought him to a nearby animal shelter. The poor dog’s teeth were so rotten that part of his jaw had disintegrated and he was skinny.

Serena, a shelter volunteer, learned that Stank’s owner had been located and contacted. The owner told staff that Stank was very old, peed in the house, and they should just to go ahead and euthanize him.

Serena thought, “No way,” and brought him home. At first, Stank was a bit of a troublemaker—chasing after the family’s chickens. But he quickly settled in.

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At the shelter, he had been nicknamed Stinky Pete because of his terrible breath, so Serena’s husband shortened it to “Stank,” and the name stuck. His teeth needed to be removed quickly for any quality of life, but at 17 years old, anesthesia was risky. But he needed the teeth out if he was going to have any quality of life.

Now, Stank is thriving and surprising Serena with his stamina. He’s accident-free in the house, has excellent mobility, and his hearing and eyesight are great. Serena originally thought he would be a hospice foster, but a year and a half later, he’s still going strong and living happily.

Viewers have been touched by Stank’s story and his determination to leave his miserable past behind. “He knew he deserved better, so he decided to finally go find his forever family. Good for him!” wrote one person. Another added, “Thank God he escaped that nightmare owner!”

As one viewer summed it up: “Love and care can do miracles.”