When This Sick Dog Was Found Wandering The Streets Of Los Angeles, The Signs Weren’t Good. But Then Something Miraculous Happened

Source: Instagram/cletusspuckler_spucklercletus
Source: Instagram/cletusspuckler_spucklercletus

When Cletus the dog turned up on the streets of LA, it wasn’t clear whether he was going to make it. Indeed, hampered by illness and disability, the poor pooch was a shadow of a healthy dog. But with the help of a local animal shelter, something absolutely miraculous happened to Cletus.

Source: Instagram/cletusspuckler_spucklercletus
Source: Instagram/cletusspuckler_spucklercletus

Back in 2016, Cletus was found wandering the streets of Los Angeles. Nobody knew how he’d managed to find himself homeless. In fact, nobody could tell how the fragile canine had even managed to survive on the streets for any length of time, let alone for however long he had done so before being rescued.

Source: Instagram/cletusspuckler_spucklercletus
Source: Instagram/cletusspuckler_spucklercletus

Obviously fearing for the pup’s health, then, his rescuers took him to a local animal shelter. Cletus was then transferred to the Los Angeles Best Friends Pet Adoption/Spray Neuter Center, where he could receive the proper care and attention. At the time, however, very little was known about Cletus, apart from the fact that he seemed to be around two years old.

Source: Instagram/cletusspuckler_spucklercletus
Source: Instagram/cletusspuckler_spucklercletus

Nevertheless, it was instantly apparent that there was something altogether different about Cletus. Indeed, with a crooked nose, huge overbite and joints that were fused together, restricting his mobility, the unfortunate mutt wasn’t exactly a perfect picture of good health.

Source: Instagram/cletusspuckler_spucklercletus
Source: Instagram/cletusspuckler_spucklercletus

Cletus’ fused joints issue meant that he actually ended up shuffling everywhere, rather than walking. And on top of all his physical problems, Cletus was also suffering from a respiratory infection when he was found on the streets.

Source: Instagram/cletusspuckler_spucklercletus
Source: Instagram/cletusspuckler_spucklercletus

With such severe health problems, then, the outlook for Cletus wasn’t good. In fact, it was a wonder that he’d managed to survive on his own at all. Still, he was now at least in the right place to get the attention he so desperately needed.

Source: Instagram/cletusspuckler_spucklercletus
Source: Instagram/cletusspuckler_spucklercletus

Nonetheless, time was of the essence for the staff at the Best Friends Animal Center, which has a ‘no-kill’ policy. Thankfully, they managed to act quickly, prescribing a course of antibiotics to fight the respiratory infection that was overcoming his system. And miraculously, they did the trick.

Source: Instagram/cletusspuckler_spucklercletus
Source: Instagram/cletusspuckler_spucklercletus

Unfortunately, nothing could be done about Cletus’ joint issue, however. Indeed, that was just the way he was born. But where other dogs, and even humans, might have allowed such a disability to consume them, Cletus refused to let it get him down.

Source: Instagram/cletusspuckler_spucklercletus
Source: Instagram/cletusspuckler_spucklercletus

Yes, Cletus is actually full of life. As they say, it’s very much what’s on the inside, not the outside, that counts, and that’s never been truer than with this adorable pooch. But he still needed a loving home – he couldn’t live in the shelter forever, after all.

Source: Instagram/cletusspuckler_spucklercletus
Source: Instagram/cletusspuckler_spucklercletus

Once he’d fully recovered from the respiratory infection, however, Cletus was in luck. Indeed, he was soon fostered by one of the Best Friends Animal Centre’s staff members, administrative coordinator Angela Rovetto.

Source: Instagram/cletusspuckler_spucklercletus
Source: Instagram/cletusspuckler_spucklercletus

Angela spent weeks carefully monitoring Cletus, learning everything there was to know about the lively mutt. She aimed to figure out how independent he could be, and how much his disabilities restricted his day-to-day life.

Source: Instagram/cletusspuckler_spucklercletus
Source: Instagram/cletusspuckler_spucklercletus

But she soon found that living with Cletus was, in fact, just like living with any other dog. One or two small dietary changes were required, in order to find the food that Cletus could most easily digest, and Angela couldn’t leave him alone with her other, larger dog. But otherwise, all was normal.

Source: Instagram/cletusspuckler_spucklercletus
Source: Instagram/cletusspuckler_spucklercletus

According to Angela, part of this apparent normality is down to the fact that Cletus sees himself as a normal dog. Indeed, he doesn’t know any different – and why should he? So, because of that, he doesn’t really require mollycoddling, either.

Source: Instagram/cletusspuckler_spucklercletus
Source: Instagram/cletusspuckler_spucklercletus

“People tend to see dogs like Cletus and immediately want to baby them,” Angela told Best Friends. “But just because he’s not everyone’s idea of normal doesn’t mean he’s suffering. If anything, Cletus is happy being who he is.”

Source: Instagram/cletusspuckler_spucklercletus
Source: Instagram/cletusspuckler_spucklercletus

After he’d spent a few weeks with Angela, then, Cletus was well and truly on the up. He’d started to gain weight, and even jumped around and played like a regular puppy. So, Angela returned him to the Best Friends center in order to find him a permanent home. All she could do was hope that someone would want to take Cletus in.

Source: Instagram/cletusspuckler_spucklercletus
Source: Instagram/cletusspuckler_spucklercletus

Then, one day, Mark Enrietto and his girlfriend, Summer Esslinger, saw a picture of Cletus on Instagram – and realized that he was exactly what they were looking for. Indeed, the couple had been searching for a dog to adopt for some time, but hadn’t yet found the one. And according to Summer, their specifications were “a dog like no other.” Cletus, then, fit the bill perfectly.

Source: Instagram/cletusspuckler_spucklercletus
Source: Instagram/cletusspuckler_spucklercletus

So, the very same day, Mark headed down to the Best Friends center to meet Cletus. And while the pup was initially quite timid, it didn’t take long for him to become totally comfortable around Mark. Indeed, the curious pooch even sat on Mark’s lap.

Source: Instagram/cletusspuckler_spucklercletus
Source: Instagram/cletusspuckler_spucklercletus

It was no surprise, then, that the couple decided to adopt Cletus for their very own. “I think I found the one,” Summer told her boyfriend. In fact, it was the couple who named Cletus, whose full name is Cletus Spuckler, after the classic hillbilly character from animated TV show The Simpsons. And now, he even lives in Springfield, just like his namesake.

Source: Instagram/cletusspuckler_spucklercletus
Source: Instagram/cletusspuckler_spucklercletus

Cletus is now doing well in his new home. Indeed, his dexterity skills are improving, and he’s getting stronger and braver all the time. Mark and Summer have even taken him to the dog park, where he runs everywhere, leaping into the air and generally being surprisingly athletic – despite his physical disabilities.

Source: Instagram/cletusspuckler_spucklercletus
Source: Instagram/cletusspuckler_spucklercletus

According to Mark and Summer, little Cletus even has a keen fashion sense. Indeed, the couple apparently dressed him in an adorable giraffe outfit, and he’s even got his own scarf and sweater collection.

Source: Instagram/cletusspuckler_spucklercletus
Source: Instagram/cletusspuckler_spucklercletus

Cletus, then, is truly a one-of-a-kind dog – but he loves his new home all the same. “He’s a little stubborn, he’s the class clown, you can take him anywhere, and, like me, he loves his mom,” Mark told Best Friends. “He’s a dog in every way.”

Source: Instagram/cletusspuckler_spucklercletus
Source: Instagram/cletusspuckler_spucklercletus

When Cletus was first discovered wandering the streets of Los Angeles, there was no telling what might happen to the fragile little puppy. But thanks to the quick action of the Best Friends Animal Center, the inspirational pooch has now made a miraculous turnaround – overcoming the odds to enjoy his life to the fullest.

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