As dog lovers, we tend to spoil our furry friends from time to time. However, there are some pet owners who take it too far, as evidenced by the unfortunate situation of Kai the golden retriever. His previous owner attempted to euthanize him solely because he was overweight, a truly shameful act.
Fortunately, Kai was brought to a veterinarian who reached out to Misfits of Alberta Animal Rescue. Pam Heggie was assigned to help Kai find a new loving home while also addressing his weight issues to ensure his health and safety.
During a recent interview with Good Morning America, Heggie shared her heartwarming story of becoming a foster mom to Kai – a dog she had never met before. Although Heggie was unaware of Kai’s troubled past, she knew that he needed a loving embrace more than anything else. At the time of his arrival, Kai was incredibly overweight and was even labeled as the heaviest animal that the veterinarian had ever seen. Despite this, Heggie was determined to help him in any way possible. After several months, Kai has managed to shed more than half of his body weight and is now thriving under Heggie’s care. In fact, when Kai first arrived at Heggie’s home, it took him almost 20 minutes to climb a small ladder outside – a testament to just how far he has come since then.
Initially, Heggie began taking Kai out for walks thrice a day – in the morning, on the way back from work, and before bedtime. Although it was challenging at first, it gradually became more manageable. According to Heggie, Kai would take a few steps before lying down to catch his breath. However, they persevered, and with each passing day, Kai’s strength improved. Additionally, Kai underwent water therapy to enhance the endurance of his back legs.
Kai, a hunting dog, had to go on a rigorous diet and rely on his foster mom for care due to his health issues. His foster mom was assured that her efforts would pay off, and thankfully, they did. Kai gradually regained his strength, accomplished some major milestones such as walking around the block, climbing stairs, and enjoying some time at the dog park. Today, he is a happy and healthy pooch, living life just like any other dog.
Heggie enjoyed being a mother through adoption so much that she decided to adopt Kai. Her experience was incredibly inspiring, and as a result, she was invited to appear on Good Morning America as a guest.
According to Heggie, this resource teaches you a crucial task that needs to be done on a daily basis.
Dogs have a unique quality of living in the present moment without worrying about the past or future. This mindset allows them to concentrate on completing tasks that require attention today. Humans could benefit from this approach, and we could learn from dogs by adopting their carefree attitude towards life.
