Senior Dog Abandoned By Family Struggles With Depression, Refuses To Engage With Humans

A senior Shetland Shepard-Dachshund mix named Barkley was found wandering around a trailer park in Owensboro, Kentucky. He was brought to the Daviess County Animal Shelter, where the staff immediately knew he would be a tough case.  Barkley demonstrated signs of severe depression, and he wouldn’t engage with humans at all.

 Barkley’s demeanor was so unsettling that he had confined himself to a dark corner of his room.  He would face the wall all day, refusing to eat or interact with anyone.  Due to his withdrawn position, the veterinarian had to sedate him in order to check his health. The staff was horrified to discover that the poor dog had raw and infected urine burns on his paws, and his dental health was equally shabby.  It’s possible that his family abandoned him due to his age-related medical expenses, despite being neutered, indicating that he was not a stray.

 Despite Barkley’s two-week shut down, the determined staff didn’t give up on him and continued to assure him of their love.  After a miraculous moment, Barkley finally realized he was in a good place and started to trust humans again.

 Barkley eventually grew relaxed and began to embrace his caregivers.  Although he was not an attention seeker, he looked forward to human belly rubs and cuddles.  Barkley was later rescued by “Secondhand Hounds,” who placed him in a long-term foster situation.

 Barkley was no longer a sick pooch carrying the scars of abandonment but a happy and friendly dog who enjoyed his time in his foster home.  Unfortunately, Barkley passed away a couple of years later from an inoperable cancerous mass on his back and spine.  But what matters is that he had a few years filled with love and affection in his final years. Barkley’s painfully depressed demeanor affected the whole community, as seen in the video below.  Watch Barkley's story to learn how he came to live a new life full of affection and care.

Please ‘SHARE’ to pass on this story to a friend or family member