Squish was abused until his face became deformed—his skull misshapen, jaw nearly locked, and he even bit his own tongue.
In April 2016, the Cuyahoga County Animal Shelter in Ohio, USA, took in a puppy named Squish, just 4 months old at the time.
Despite his condition, Squish had an undeniable love for life and a strong will to survive. Initially, vets suspected an infection from another animal.
He was treated with antibiotics and painkillers and transferred to a veterinary center.
At first, Squish seemed to be recovering well—but as he grew, complications worsened.
Two months later, seeing Squish’s suffering, the veterinary team planned to euthanize him. But vet Dr. Eileen Heldmann refused to give up on him. She transferred him to a larger animal hospital.
There, tests revealed Squish’s deformities weren’t caused by infection, but from blunt force trauma to the head—he had been struck by a hard object. He needed jaw surgery and ongoing treatment, but the cost was high.
Just when all seemed lost, a kind-hearted person stepped in: Danielle Boyd, a veterinary intern, was deeply moved by Squish’s courage. She adopted him and paid for his surgery.
Squish underwent successful surgery under Dr. Heldmann’s care.
He recovered rapidly—and today lives a joyful life with his rescuer, Danielle.
Before meeting Squish, Danielle had just lost her elderly dog. Squish’s arrival brought comfort and healing, helping her cope with that loss.
Thanks to his powerful will to live—and the compassion of good people—Squish survived the unthinkable and found happiness.