Photos Taken 432 Days Apart Show What Waiting Did to This Shelter Dog

Spinach arrived at Austin Pets Alive! as a young puppy carrying more pain than any little dog should have to endure. A ruptured eye required urgent care, and without the shelter stepping in, his story could have ended before he ever had the chance to grow up. Veterinarians removed the injured eye, bringing him much-needed relief, and the sweet, energetic puppy quickly began showing everyone his playful personality. With his pain behind him and so many people rooting for him, his rescuers hoped finding a loving family would be the easy part. Credit: Facebook But days became weeks, and weeks became months. More than 432 days after arriving, Spinach was still waiting for someone to choose him. In the beginning, Spinach handled shelter life with the enthusiasm of a puppy who seemed convinced something wonderful was just around the corner. He had energy to burn and especially loved opportunities to play with other dogs. As the months passed, however, the long wait began taking an emotional and physical toll. The joyful dog volunteers saw during playtime seemed very different once he returned to his kennel. “When he was in the playgroup, he was happy and joyful because he loved to play w...