Cougar couldn't have had it any worse after being hit by a car and picked up by animal control, but luckily, the German shepherd found comfort in his stuffed toys.
A video of the 2-year-old canine has surfaced on Facebook showing his progression after the incident that left him with a fractured leg. It is unknown how the dog ended up alone near a road, but now he is in safe hands after being saved from the euthanasia list by Coastal German Shepherd Rescue in Irvine, California.
Tiffany Norton, the shelter's co-founder told Newsweek: "Animal Control picked him up but did not have the means to get him the medical care he needed."
With the help of the charity that rescued him on November 3, Cougar's fractures were surgically repaired, and he is now on the mend. Coastal German Shepherd Rescue has since uploaded a video that has 7,700 views. He clearly enjoys toys, and they appear to have aided him in his time of need.
The video shows him walking with a cast on his left leg and a green dinosaur toy in his mouth, then driving to the rescue center. Cougar, who is now in a foster home, is also pictured in a room with other dogs, with his beloved teddy still firmly between his paws.
While Cougar has had a traumatic couple of months, he hasn't lost hope, and his spirits remain high. The caption describes him as "a happy, dog-friendly, toy-obsessed GSD whose life is just beginning."
"He is amazing and the sweetest boy with a joy for all things!" Norton told Newsweek. "He is your typical loyal, loving, and smart German shepherd so a home that wants a dog to be an active member of their family would best suit him."
Cougar has been praised for embracing other dogs and being super sociable so he would best suit a home with another canine companion.
So far, the video shared on Facebook on December 7 has over 620 likes and tons of comments from adoring fans.
"Thank you for saving him, he's so beautiful," one person wrote in the comments.
Another person said: "So glad you found each other."
"Sweet boy. He's gonna make someone very happy," said a Facebook user.
"Thanks for saving Cougars life and please keep him safe and happy. He is a Beautiful boy give him a wonderful rest of his life," said another.
Unfortunately, stories like Cougar's are far too familiar for animal shelters across the country. Newsweek has shared a number of articles about dogs who have spent months and in some cases years, looking for their forever homes.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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