Gator the dog was left to drown. Now, the ‘special soul’ gets a second chance in Florida
A “sweet” dog left to drown was rescued — then came more good news.
The Mastiff Rescue of Florida shared the heartwarming update that Gator the pup now has a new home.
“When Travis went to meet Gator it was like they had been together,” the rescue wrote Oct. 2 in a Facebook post. “The bond was immediate.”
The “special soul” got a second chance in a permanent foster home after the Stuart-based animal organization said he “went through hell.”
“He was thrown in a lake to drown and rescued by a good Samaritan,” rescuers wrote. “We picked him up from the shelter and took him immediately to the ER because he had pneumonia.”
Gator’s condition improved, and he started heartworm treatment. The roughly 4- to 5 year-old dog also showed of separation anxiety as he found out “what it is to be loved,” the animal organization wrote in a past post.
Gator caught the attention of a man who had lost another mastiff named Nora Ann. The man, identified only as Travis in the rescue’s email to McClatchy News, felt his late dog brought them together. The man fell for Gator right away, and it was a “match made in heaven.”
“Gator moved into Travis’s home like he belonged there, he became friends with the other dog and started playing, loved all the comfy dog beds, lounging by the pool, getting in bed with Travis, all the good food,” the rescue wrote. “Gator has the life he deserves..LOTS OF LOVE!”
The Mastiff Rescue of Florida has a presence in Stuart, a roughly 105-mile drive north from Miami.
This story was originally published October 3, 2024 at 11:27 AM with the headline "Gator the dog was left to drown. Now, the ‘special soul’ gets a second chance in Florida."
