Resident Dog Duke Spoons Injured Foster Puppy Until Her Wired Jaw Heals
He decided right away that she was never sleeping alone.
When foster mom Brianna first met Opal through rescue group Wags & Walks, the puppy had her jaw wired shut and wore a muzzle full-time while healing from a severe injury. Even with the bulky hardware, Opal wagged her tail the entire time.
Brianna brought the young Pit Bull home, but medical restrictions meant Opal had to remain separated behind a baby gate to prevent accidental bumps. Her resident dog, Duke, made his feelings known without delay. Instead of wandering off to play, Duke spent his days parked directly on the other side of the gate, crying softly whenever Opal whined back.
Three days behind a gate gave way to gentle spooning
After three days of listening to the pair mourn the barrier, Brianna opened the gate under strict supervision. Roughhousing was out of the question, so Duke chose the gentlest compromise possible: he curled his entire body around the puppy and began spooning her on the bed. For the next five months, while Opal watched Duke enjoy treats she was not yet permitted to chew, Duke offered quiet physical comfort, keeping her safe under his paws as documented by the family on @thecocoapibbles.
The tender dynamic quickly resonated with dog lovers online, who cheered for the gentle companionship helping Opal through her recovery:
Five months of patience ends with a pet store trip and an adoption
When veterinary specialists finally cleared Opal to have the wire removed from her jaw, Brianna took her straight to the pet store. For the first time in five months, the pup could pick up toys in her mouth and chew alongside her big brother. Seeing how completely Duke and Opal had bonded, Brianna made the foster arrangement permanent, officially finalizing Opal's adoption as reported by iHeartDogs. What started as a temporary medical rescue became a lifelong partnership between two dogs who refused to stay apart.
More of Opal and Duke
Photo gallery, 4 images