It’s easier now for King the dog to hold his head up high for multiple reasons.
The 5-year-old canine arrived at the Humane Society of Pinellas (HSP) in Clearwater, Fla., in the summer of 2024 after “escaping a life of neglect,” the shelter shared in a July 8 Instagram post.
When King arrived, he was dealing with a 7-pound tumor on his face, a mass that equaled 10 percent of his body weight and caused the dog’s head to hang low and close to the ground.
“It was impossible to tell how long it had been left untreated,” HSP added on social media. “Despite this, King’s spirit was unbroken; even though he was uncomfortable and in pain, he had an inspiring, upbeat attitude and only wanted to be loved.”
Shortly after reaching HSP, King underwent a “difficult but successful” surgery to remove the mass on his face, which shelter veterinarians determined was benign after the operation.
Following his surgery, King started heartworm treatment and the search for a forever home.
“King has shown us incredible resilience and a heart full of love, and he deserves a future forever home where he can truly be the King he is,” HSP shared.
In a July 26 update, the shelter noted that King would do best in a supportive home that understood the dog “is still learning how to be a dog outside the world where he came from prior.”
After weeks of patiently healing and waiting, King found that sympathetic and sweet adopter thanks to a meet-cute moment.
HSP shared how King’s adoption came to be in an Aug. 12 Instagram post. According to the shelter, an HSP staff member recently took King for a walk outside and passed the area where a construction crew was working on HSP’s new Sjouwerman Adoption Center. One of the construction workers spotted King as the dog strolled past and formed an instant connection with the canine.
When a recent storm passed through the Clearwater area, the construction worker asked HSP if he could foster King during the storm so the dog wouldn’t have to ride it out alone.
“He fell in love with him and fate stepped in and King was adopted by this amazing man. Congrats to King and his furever family!” HSP wrote about the adoption on social media.