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By Alyce Collins
Senior Reporter
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A sick and emaciated puppy who was due to be euthanized within a matter of hours had his life saved by a woman who refused to let him die without being loved.
While animal rescuer Kayla Winrow was browsing online, she came across information regarding the local shelter's euthanasia schedule. It broke her heart to see a 6-month-old puppy, named Courage, who was due to be put down that same day.
Courage had been at the shelter for seven days before being listed for euthanasia. He wasn't in great health, showing signs of an upper respiratory infection, and the shelter has very limited space. But Winrow, of Oklahoma, told Newsweek that she "couldn't let his story end there," and she immediately went to visit Courage.
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"His owner had gone to jail about a month before he was surrendered, and during that time, he was reportedly losing weight and becoming ill," Winrow said. "The family member who brought him in said they didn't have the means to provide care."
She continued: "His face told me everything I needed to know. He looked tired, broken, and defeated. It was clear that life had not been kind to him. We wanted to be the people who gave him a chance and showed him what true love is."
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Without hesitation, Winrow signed up to foster Courage, and in doing so, saved his life.
He was shut down and seemed "completely exhausted" when she took him out of the kennel. He wasn't keen on the leash, but Winrow remained patient and allowed Courage to go at his own pace.
Despite everything he had gone through, Courage still wagged his tail and gave Winrow some affectionate cuddles. "It was like he knew he was safe," she said.
Winrow and her husband, Grant Winrow, are fostering Courage for as long as he needs. The eventual plan is to find him a loving forever home, but for now, he's adjusting to life outside the shelter.
"Even though it's only been a couple of days, he's already beginning to decompress. His eyes are brighter, he's starting to play, and his spirit is lifting. There's still a long road ahead, but we have no doubt he's on the right track," Winrow continued.
She said: "He's eating and drinking well, taking his antibiotics for the respiratory infection, and we're providing him with high-quality food and supplements to support healthy weight gain. He's started playing with toys and showing us glimpses of his personality."
After saving Courage from euthanasia, Winrow shared his story on TikTok (@salvage.souls) and the video went viral with over 3.3 million views and 298,300 likes at the time of writing.
The online response has been incredible, and Winrow said it's also led to several adoption inquiries for Courage which she's delighted about. This sweet pup deserves to be loved and cherished, and Winrow is so grateful that she managed to step in before that opportunity was taken away from him.
She told Newsweek: "I hope Courage's story inspires others to act. Animals everywhere are waiting for someone to notice them, to choose them. We all have the power to be their voice. Be the person who saves a life.
"People from all over have reached out, not only interested in adopting him but also wanting to learn how to foster or adopt animals in their own communities. That kind of impact is exactly what I hope for when sharing these stories."
With over 4,900 comments on the viral TikTok post so far, many people thanked and praised Winrow for taking a chance on him.
One comment reads: "oh that poor little sweet man. You're an angel on Earth!"
Another TikTok user wrote: "My heart. He looks so broken and scared. I know you will heal him, thank you."
While another person replied: "His eyes say his soul is broken."
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? We want to see the best ones! Send them in to life@newsweek.com and they could appear on our site.
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