"What in the world...?" Danielle Finley and her boyfriend had no idea at first what they were seeing on the rural Pennsylvania road last Memorial Day. Whatever drew the animal out of the countryside and onto the road may have saved his life that day. It certainly changed it for the better, for both him and the young couple.
The creature looked like a hairless raccoon or a chupacabra more than it did like a dog. It was, nevertheless, exactly that; a dog. He looked up at Finley with such eagerness that she gave him some food and water, which he gratefully lapped up. Finley and her boyfriend named him Phil and took him home.
When they took Phil to see their veterinarian, he told them that contrary to what they thought, he didn't have mange. His hair loss was caused by allergies and a skin infection. Being out in the elements did the rest.
The vet agreed with them that the senior dog had probably been abandoned by his previous owner. His bottom teeth were worn down, as though he had constantly chewed on a crate. Whoever owned him before probably kept him crated and then when his health issues cropped up, they simply abandoned him on a lonely stretch of road.
Poor Phil's life might have been hard before, but now he's in a home where he is loved and cared for every single day. And to top it off, he has three "siblings," adopted like he was.
From being lost and wanting on the street, Phil has finally—finally!—come home to the love and care every dog deserves. Danielle and her boyfriend are making a world of difference to four dogs who otherwise might have suffered and perhaps even died.
This is what love looks like. Phil's coat is growing back in and he no longer looks like a chupacabra. Cuddled and petted, he knows he is loved. Perhaps he doesn't know why, but he rests in the fact that there are some really good people in this world.
What would you have done had you seen this strange-looking beast on the road? Would you have stopped to investigate? We hope so! Share Phil's story with your friends and see who has the biggest smile. (Hint: is it perhaps your dog?)