Rescue Dog Rejected by His Former Family Ends Up 'Healing Hearts' at an Assisted Living Facility (Exclusive)

The head administrator at an assisted living home in Texas discovered Chewy the Shih Tzu wandering solo on the streets of Austin.

Need To Know

• Priscilla Duran, who leads an assisted living home in Texas, adopted a Shih Tzu called Chewy after finding the dog wandering around the streets of Austin.
• After Chewy's previous owners declined to take back their pet, Duran took in the dog and began bringing him to his workplace.
• At the assisted living community, Chewy is beloved by the residents and dedicates his days to keeping them engaged and joyful.

Chewy, a 7-year-old rescue dog, is charming the residents of an assisted living facility.

Priscilla Duran, the executive director of The Philomena , an assisted living facility in Kyle, Texas, discovered the Shih Tzu on the streets of Austin alone and immediately began searching for his owners.

Duran tells The News Pulsethat she brought the canine to a veterinarian, who located a microchip, filled with the original owners' contact details, embedded in the dog.

Duran mentions that when the original owners were contacted, they expressed significant frustration. They stated clearly that they did not wish for him to return and then disconnected the call.

Duran resolved to bring Chewy home and remove him from the streets. During this crucial point in Chewy’s life, Duran was confronting her personal struggles as well. “On the very same day I discovered him, I was also involved in a multi-vehicle collision that resulted in my car being totaled. Both of us had quite a difficult start to our relationship,” she explains.

Duran has two older rescue dogs, one of whom is nearing the end of their life after a long health struggle. She feared her older pet wouldn't adjust well to Chewy's sudden arrival.

“I didn’t want to add to his difficulties or stress. Then, when that dog approached Chewy, gave him an immediate look, and warmly greeted him, I surrendered and thought, ‘It seems I’ll have to assist another dog,’” she explains.

Don’t miss out on any stories—subscribe now. The News Pulse's complimentary everyday email update To remain current with the finest content offered by The News Pulse, ranging from engaging celebrity gossip to captivating human-interest narratives.

Ever since welcoming Chewy into his life, Duran has discovered numerous opportunities to include the dog in various aspects of daily living. At night, the rescued canine stays at Duran’s place. However, when daylight rolls around, Chewy accompanies him to The Philomena, where he dedicates his days to trying out adorable new costumes and engaging with playthings to bring joy to the facility's inhabitants.

"He's recognized for his bow tie and sunglasses, which we incorporate into nearly every ensemble. For his birthday, the residents mentioned they plan to get matching bow ties and small circular sunglasses like Chewy’s," explains Duran about how fondly The Philomena residents cherish Chewy.

At the assisted living facility, Chewy walks through the building to greet and interact with as many residents as possible. Duran says Chewy's visits encourage the residents to include more movement, exercise, and happiness in their days.

“I’ll definitely have residents who won’t engage in exercises. They might not understand that when they repeatedly toss his small toy 100 times, they are still being active,” notes Duran. “What also amuses me is that some residents request to take Chewy for a stroll, but then I see them pushing him along in a walker as though he’s the leader of our resident council.”

The Philomena offers varying levels of care for its residents, some of whom live with Alzheimer's or dementia. Duran finds that Chewy has significantly contributed to the well-being of patients struggling with memory loss.

"The part that has been just so heartwarming is with memory care, we have residents who maybe can't talk anymore, or who have become withdrawn due to dementia, but when we put Chewy right in their lap, all of a sudden, eyes are open and smiles are happening. Somebody who's having difficulty with words will try to talk and interact with him, and that's so powerful," Duran explains.

"It's in those moments that you realize that you don't always need words, and so much is said without words between the two of them," she elaborates.

Duran, an ardent admirer of canines, shared with The News Pulse that both her acquaintances and loved ones often referred to her dogs as “therapeutic.” She mentioned that within her close-knit group of pets, Chewy has carved out a distinct role for himself.

Duran states that Chewy's gentle call for healing is mending the hearts of The News Pulse's audience.

Read the initial article on The News Pulse