A year ago, Hulit’s friend, who lives in Austin, Texas, shared a photo of 6-year-old Beaux and mentioned that his owner was seeking a foster or permanent home for the dog. Upon seeing the photo, Hulit immediately contacted her friend as she was instantly smitten with Beaux.
Hulit quickly arranged to pick Beaux up from his owner’s house that evening. However, upon arriving, she was met with a distressing situation:
Beaux had been living in the backyard for 5 years without proper care or affection. He weighed only 42 pounds and had never been treated for fleas or heartworms. His physical appearance, with a sunken skull and close-set eyes, was due to being one of seven puppies in his mother’s litter.
Despite the fact that his physical appearance did not affect his health or cognitive abilities, breeders had difficulty finding someone willing to pay a high price for a purebred Labrador with facial abnormalities. As a result, he was eventually given away for free to the couple whom Hulit rescued him from.
Dr. Jay Rydberg, a veterinarian, informed Hulit that Beaux was suffering from heartworm, which could lead to heart and lung failure, and that his chances of survival were slim. He gave her the option of trying to treat him or euthanasia.
“I said I would feel horrible if we did not attempt to give him a life and whatever it takes; let’s do it,” Hulit said.
During the first month of his rehabilitation, Beaux spent a lot of time on an oxygen tank and was too sick to start his heartworm medication. Hulit and Rydberg both feared that Beaux would not make it several times. Rydberg even contacted Hulit in the middle of the night to say goodbye, but Beaux proved to be a fighter and was not ready to give up.
After three months, Beaux weighed enough to go through heartworm treatment. He was finally given a clean bill of health this past November, even though he lost hearing in his left ear and is blind in his right eye.
Beaux, now 108 pounds, is “glad about everything” since returning home with Hulit. The dog doesn’t know he’s deformed. He thinks he’s the most handsome thing there ever was and they just let him think that.