“He looks so much happier …” 🥹
By Ashley Ortiz
Published on Sep 19, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Earlier this year, the staff at Austin Pets Alive! (APA!) welcomed a rescue pup named Squishapotamus, who was unlike any other resident at the shelter. While most of the dogs could relate to the neglect that led Squishapotamus, also known as Squish, to the shelter, there was one thing that made the pit bull mix stand out from the rest.
“He was a little over 100 [pounds],” Jess Prosser, dog care lead at APA!, told The Dodo. “He was extremely overweight.”
Squish’s stature immediately concerned the staff, who worried that his weight was causing him pain. His unpredictable response to being touched confirmed their fears.
“You could tell that he did not feel well,” Prosser said. “His back legs were giving out when he tried to walk, and he had some moments where he was getting defensive with being pet. I believe the defensiveness was due to being uncomfortable.”
Squish struggled to accept the love that his caregivers at APA! had to give, but that didn’t stop them from giving him the best care. They knew the sweet boy could have a long, happy life ahead of him if he lost a significant amount of weight.
They quickly started him on a meal plan, eliminating treats from his diet and managing his portion sizes daily. Then, he started exercising more.
“We would also do very short walks with him because he could only walk for about 5 minutes at a time,” Prosser said. “I would also give him coconut massages because his skin was in such poor condition. He had lots of patches of dry skin.”
After weeks of following a strict routine, Squish began to slim down, and his personality started to blossom.
“What has been most memorable is watching his transformation. You could see changes both physically and behaviorally,” Prosser said. “He slowly started to get more energy. He went from not even being able to walk for 5 minutes to now he can go off campus and on the trail. He also feels better and has more people in his handler pool.”
When Squish first arrived at APA!, he seemed particularly fearful of and defensive towards men. But once he started losing weight and feeling better, his demeanor changed.
“We have not seen any defensiveness since his weight loss,” Prosser said. “He looks so much happier, too.”
You can see more of Squish’s transformation here:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOhIZKMEuAx/embed/captioned/?cr=1&v=14&wp=810&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedodo.com&rp=%2Fdaily-dodo%2Fshelter-dog-with-the-saddest-eyes-sheds-45-pounds-to-find-a-happy-ending%3Futm_source%3Dfacebook%26utm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_campaign%3Ddodo%26fbclid%3DIwY2xjawNXScVleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETE3c3IySXJLaUw5Uk#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A3168.800000011921%2C%22ls%22%3A2747.400000035763%2C%22le%22%3A2750.699999988079%7D
Five months later, Squish has lost 45 pounds and is officially ready for adoption. His devoted caregivers at APA! will miss having him around, but they’re so excited for Squish to find a loving family.
As Squish’s case manager and resident best friend, Prosser knows just what to look out for when searching for his perfect home.
“An adult household would be best for him. I also think that he should be the only dog,” Prosser said. “He does go to our dog playgroup sessions, but he enjoys people time more than anything.”
Squish has grown to love people, and he can’t wait to find his own soon. Now that he’s feeling better, Squish is enjoying every day to the fullest, and his friends like Prosser are comforted knowing that the best is yet to come.
“I want people to know that he just has so much love to give. This poor kiddo was neglected, obese and unhappy when he first came to APA!. Now, every time I take him to a yard, all he wants to do is snuggle and get pets,” Prosser said. “He is a great companion. This might sound cheesy, but every time I see him, he makes me smile.”
To help dogs like Squish get the care they need, you can donate to Austin Pets Alive! here.
You can inquire about adopting Squish here.
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Experts Find Seal Covered In Fur On Beach — Then Realize What’s Going On
They usually shed it before they’re even born 😮
By Ashley Ortiz
With harbor seal pup season underway, Marine Mammals of Maine (MMM) is used to receiving more calls for help than usual. So, when the staff got a message the other day about a young pup stranded on Maine’s Scarborough Beach, they weren’t entirely surprised — until they arrived and saw something alarming about his coat.
Most harbor seals are born brown or gray, but this little guy was different.
“He was born with the white, fluffy lanugo fur typically shed in utero prior to birth, which could be an indication that he was born prematurely,” MMM wrote on Facebook.
On top of his unusual white fur, the harbor seal seemed around a day old, causing extra concern among the rescuers. During pup season, it’s not uncommon for young babies to swim to shore and wait for their moms to feed them. But this little guy didn’t seem to have a mother looking after him, and his interactions with beachgoers were worrisome.
“While [being] vocal, swimming and sleeping on the beach [are] all normal things for maternally dependent pups, a few aspects of his exam and the number of times he experienced people interacting with him on the beach indicated he would need assistance to survive,” MMM wrote.
The folks at MMM surveilled the area for the pup’s mom once more, then ultimately decided to take him to their headquarters for rehabilitation. While day-old seal pups, especially those born with lanugo fur, can be tough to care for, the folks at MMM have a hopeful plan.
“As a dependent pup, he will be spending the next few months at our center, receiving formula feeds until [he’s] 3-4 weeks old, and then learning to eat fish,” MMM wrote.
You can see more pictures of the seal here:
The seal pup arrived at MMM later that day and swiftly started his treatment plan. His caregivers are confident that he will continue to grow and thrive in their care, eventually returning to the wild. Until then, they are committed to making sure the pup is happy, safe and reaching all the milestones necessary to be an independent adult one day.
“He is doing great and loves to suckle on his pool mate, who is also a dependent seal pup,” MMM’s Lynda Ada Doughty told The Dodo. “He loves his swim time, too!”
To help seals like this pup get the care they need, you can donate to Marine Mammals of Maine here.
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