Updates about Ethan, Dying Dog Dumped at KHS

Join us on March 10 at 11:10am (ET) for Ethan’s Adoption Celebration!

We will be broadcasting Ethan’s adoption celebration on Facebook Live. Learn more 

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Follow the story of Ethan, the miracle dog who survived starvation and has become a symbol of love and hope for so many. This page has updates in chronological order, with the most recent updates at the bottom. For the most up-to-date information, follow our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/kyhumane. 

January 29, 2021: Today around 12 pm, a dying dog was left in the KHS parking lot. Someone dropping off wish list donations saw the dog and alerted staff, who rushed him to our Veterinary Services department.

We immediately began working to try to save his life, warming him with heated blankets and warm IV fluids. Ethan, as we have named him, was so weak he could not lift his head. He is the thinnest dog we have ever seen that was still breathing. This rack of bones weighs just 38 pounds when he should be about 80 pounds. The outline of every bone can be seen from his dehydrated skin, and his muscle loss is extreme, as his body tried to find any fuel to survive. Ethan was also filthy from feces and urine

While we don’t know how Ethan got to this point, based on his condition, we surmise he may have been locked in a crate without food for weeks. Perhaps his owner left, expecting to return? Or was he purposefully abandoned, trapped in a hellish cage until someone found him and dumped him outside our doors? However he got to this condition, we are doing everything we can to save him.

We ask that if you have any information about Ethan that can aid the investigation, please contact Louisville Metro Animal Services at 502-473-PETS. Ethan deserves justice.

Find the latest updates on Ethan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/kyhumane. Below is a chronology of Ethan’s progress since January 29.

 

UPDATE JANUARY 30, 9 am: Ethan went home with our veterinary technician last night so he could be heavily monitored, kept on his IV fluids and fed every 2 hours. Around 3 am he started taking a turn for the worse and displayed rapid breathing and some neurological symptoms like twitching. He was immediately rushed to an emergency hospital and is now in their care where we hope he can be stabilized. Please keep Ethan and our staff who are fighting for his life, in your thoughts. Donations in his honor are appreciated at www.kyhumane.org/donate.

UPDATE JANUARY 30, 9 pm: Ethan is still alive and is in critical but stable condition at the animal hospital. He has begun eating and drinking again but he has to be held up to bite and swallow because he is too weak to hold up his own head. We are taking it very slow and steady and are hoping that he is strong enough to fight. He is having his bloodwork monitored closely and is under 24-hour supervision with supportive care, iv fluids and medications. He needed some special fluids that the hospital did not have so our friends at SOS stepped up and donated supplies to help him. It really seems like our entire city has come together to pull for this special baby and we cannot explain to you how grateful we are for every single helping hand. We will keep everyone updated on Ethan and will have another update tomorrow on his condition. Please continue to keep Ethan in your thoughts and prayers. We’ve never wanted so badly for an animal to survive and be able to have the happy ending they so desperately deserve.

UPDATE JANUARY 31, 10 am: Our Ethan is still alive! We just received an update from the hospital, along with some photos, that he is doing better this morning and is displaying less twitching. They say he is still wanting to eat and drink (a great sign!) and we got our very first tail wag this morning! An absolute miracle! The staff has made it clear that he is in no way out of the woods but they are cautiously optimistic that he may survive this. Thank you to everyone for your continued support, prayers and all-around good vibes. It appears to be working! We will continue to post updates as we have them and keep all of you informed on his condition. Thank you all again so much!

UPDATE FEBRUARY 1, 9 am: Ethan made it through another night! We believe his chances of survival are still just 50/50, so every day he is with us is a miracle. The emergency veterinary hospital where Ethan is staying is running more bloodwork this morning. They are monitoring his electrolytes carefully for refeeding syndrome, a metabolic disturbance that occurs as a result of reinstitution of nutrition in animals who are starved. We are seeing less head bobbing and leg paddling, which is a good sign. Thank you to everyone who is rooting for Ethan! Your thoughts, prayers, and donations mean so much! Gifts in Ethan’s honor can be made at www.kyhumane.org/donate. We are so grateful for the outpouring of support and concern for Ethan!

UPDATE FEBRUARY 2, 8 am: Good Morning from Ethan! We are thrilled to report that Ethan is making slow but steady progress. Since his rescue on Friday, Ethan’s weight has increased from 38 pounds to 47! Much of this gain has been from fluids, as he was extremely dehydrated. He is responding well to the nutrition he’s receiving. He pooped for the first time, which is an excellent sign that his body is starting to function more normally. We want to give a special thank you to the emergency veterinary team that is providing Ethan with round-the-clock care, and to everyone who is following his story!

UPDATE FEBRUARY 3, 9 a.m.: Ethan has survived another night! The hospital staff says he is continuing to improve and while he is not out of the woods, he has shown one of the strongest wills to live we’ve ever seen. He has a hearty appetite and is able to support his head enough to eat now. He still cannot walk on his own yet, as he has little to no muscle on his body from starvation. The veterinary staff has been helping him build muscle back by taking him on short strolls around the hospital using slings to support his weight. A big thank you to the emergency veterinary team that is providing Ethan with round-the-clock care, and to everyone who is following his story! Please continue to pray and keep Ethan in your thoughts. All of the good vibes seem to really be working!

UPDATE FEBRUARY 3, 6 am: Ethan is in good spirits this morning and seems to be really happy to have his own room to decompress after his time in the hospital. He’s eating every two hours with help from the staff and has started to finally drink water on his own! He is still very weak and needs help moving around but he seems to enjoy being fussed over. We got a happy tail wag this morning and honestly, it made our hearts explode with happiness. When Ethan arrived, he was mere hours away from death. If the Good Samaritans who were dropping off donations hadn’t seen him, there’s a very good chance that Ethan wouldn’t be alive today. We want to take a moment to say thank you. Thank you for your support, your generosity and your love for Ethan. Before Ethan was found, he knew how cruel the world could be. Now, all he will ever know is love. Donations to help our lifesaving work mean so much to Ethan and to the thousands of shelter animals we care for each year. Thank you to everyone who has been moved to give in his honor. We are overwhelmed with gratitude.

UPDATE FEBRUARY 4, 6 pm: UR BABY HAS TAKEN HIS FIRST STEPS! While he is wobbly and learning to use his legs again, this is huge progress and deserves to be celebrated. Less than a week ago, he was on death’s door, and now he is finally able to walk a little again. Thank you so much to everyone supporting Ethan and his recovery! Your support has made this amazing moment possible! ALSO! We’ve had lots of people messaging us asking about Ethan’s age and breed. He thinks he may be a Cane Corso mix around 3-4 years old.

UPDATE FEBRUARY 5, 7 pm: It has officially been one week since Ethan was dumped at the Kentucky Humane Society mere hours away from death. In that week, we’ve watched him go from a living skeleton to this beautiful soul who has fought with everything in him to survive. Ethan has a special kind of resilience that has really spoken to people near and far. He is a reminder that we have the ability to overcome even the worst of circumstances. This morning Ethan weighed in at a solid 59.4 lbs- he has gained 21 lbs since last Friday when he arrived. He is learning to use his legs again and has been stomping around his nursery all morning! Nothing in the world brightens our day more than seeing this boy learn to enjoy life again. Donations to help our lifesaving work mean so much to Ethan and to the thousands of shelter animals we care for each year. Thank you to everyone who has been moved to give in his honor. We are overwhelmed with gratitude.

UPDATE FEBRUARY 6, 10 am: Ethan is doing well this morning and is moving around more. He is still receiving IV fluids to ensure he is hydrated and is being cared for in our medical ward by our veterinary team. We’ve had several people reach out about wanting to visit Ethan, but he is very fragile and not able to have visitors. Our shelter remains closed to the public during COVID, as we work to keep our essential staff and the public safe, and we are unable to make any exceptions. We are so grateful for the outpouring of support from our community and afar. Thank you for caring about Ethan and our other shelter pets as much as we do! We will be cutting down to one update a day for this weekend and we will post tomorrow morning about his progress. Thank you everyone again for understanding and for cheering Ethan on!

UPDATE FEBRUARY 7, 10 am: Ethan weighed in at 61.7 lbs this morning and is getting around a little better! He only stumbles occasionally and seems to really love being able to use his legs again. He is still receiving IV fluids and being fed several times a day to help him continue gaining weight. One of our foster parent’s children made him this adorable portrait and he loves it! It’s now hanging up in his nursery along with the other cards we’ve received for him. A big thank you to everyone for their support and outpouring of love for Ethan! He has gone from the most neglected dog we’ve ever seen to one of the most beloved dogs in our city. We appreciate all of your support and we will update you all again tomorrow morning.

UPDATE FEBRUARY 8, 9 am: Our veterinarian Dr. Bewley says that Ethan’s latest labs look excellent! He is still battling slight anemia due to starvation and nutritional deficiency but is being supplemented with vitamins that he loves to eat! He is ready to come off iv fluids which is a huge step in the right direction. Ethan spent much of the weekend practicing his walk and he doesn’t stumble as much as he did last week! We couldn’t be more pleased with his progress so far and his recovery is a testament to his strength and perseverance. He is one amazing dog! Donations to help our lifesaving work mean so much to Ethan and to the thousands of shelter animals we care for each year. Thank you to everyone who has been moved to give in his honor. We are overwhelmed with gratitude.

UPDATE FEBRUARY 8, 12 pm: ETHAN INSPIRES PUSH FOR MORE PROTECTIONS FOR KENTUCKY PETS! We want to thank State Rep. Chris Freeland for sponsoring House Bill 57, which seeks to expand the definition of animal torture to include intentional gross neglect/abandonment. The bill currently has 39 co-sponsors, both Republicans and Democrats. KENTUCKY RESIDENTS: If you live in Kentucky, we encourage you to contact your house representative and thank them for caring about companion animals like Ethan. Ask them to support, co-sponsor and vote for HB 57. Call 1-800-372-7181.

UPDATE FEBRUARY 9, 9 am: Good morning from handsome Ethan! Today Ethan is 63 lbs. and he’s starting to show us his fun-loving personality! He is always up for a treat and loves the toys and snacks that everyone has donated to our shelter animals! He is wagging his tail all the time now and wants love all day long. He is being treated like a king and is loving every minute of it!

UPDATE FEBRUARY 10, 10 am: Today Ethan decided he was ready to break out of his nursery and stood up on his hind legs by himself! He is slowly getting his strength back and is in a very playful mood. He’s very happy to see other dogs and cats and really wants to make friends, but can’t just yet, as he still needs to fully vaccinated first. As his body condition improves and we are seeing more of his personality, it’s looking like he may be even younger than 3 years old! He picked up his first toy this morning and is having a ball!

UPDATE FEBRUARY 10, 2 pm: We realize we already posted one Ethan update this morning but since it’s icy in Louisville today and many people are staying inside, we figured you may like to see Ethan’s lunch break! ? He gets fed every few hours and always has a big appetite. Look how fast he came out of his nursery too! His legs are becoming less shakey and he’s slowly getting a little muscle on his body. We’re SO amazed and proud of this handsome guy’s progress. 12 days ago, we were holding his head up so he could attempt to eat and drink. We had no idea if he would survive and if he did, would he ever trust people again? Today, he loves people, he is eating and drinking on his own and showing the world exactly what the true meaning of resilience is. Keep cheering him on! It’s made all the difference!

UPDATE FEBRUARY 11, 10 am: Ethan now weighs 65lbs which means he’s gained 27lbs in the last 12 days! He and the vet staff are madly in love with one another and he pushed open the gate to his nursery this morning to spend more time with them. He is finally doing well enough that he’s being released into the care of an experienced staff member at the end of this week to continue his rehabilitation in a loving foster home. While he will be going home with the staff member during the night, he will return to the shelter each day for specialized care and so we can continue to monitor his progress closely. So far he has surpassed all of our wildest expectations and continues to amaze us with his remarkable recovery. We will continue to share updates daily on his progress so everyone can follow along on his road to recovery. Donations to help our lifesaving work mean so much to Ethan and to the thousands of shelter animals we care for each year. Thank you to everyone who has been moved to give in his honor. It means the absolute world to us.

UPDATE FEBRUARY 12, 9 am: Ethan is doing great this morning and is loving the extra cuddle time with his aunt Angela! He has become more playful in the last couple days and has started to really love his stuffed toys. A huge thank you to everyone who has sent him care packages and presents! Tonight, Ethan will spend his first night with a KHS staff member and we’re so excited to learn more about his behavior in a home environment. Everyone wish him luck and don’t worry- he will be returning to the shelter during the daytime so we can continue monitoring him and ensure he’s progressing well. We’ll continue to keep you updated on his journey!

UPDATE FEBRUARY 13: Good morning! Ethan went home last night with Jeff. Jeff says, “Ethan did fabulous last night. He was so brave to explore his new surroundings. He gets along so well with other dogs and cats. He’s very patient and gentle when interacting with anyone. He ate well and when it was time to go to bed, we had a nice comfortable place for him to lay down and sleep. But in typical Ethan form, he did things on his own terms and decided the couch was the best place for him. I laid there with him for a while because he loves to give hug and kisses when he’s tired. He woke me at one point to let me know that he needed to go outside to go to the bathroom. He came in, ate some food, took some medicine (he is the best medicine taker) and went right back to bed. This. Dog. Is. Amazing. And to think that if it wasn’t for the remarkable Vet staff at KHS, Ethan wouldn’t be here today, living his best life, loved and supported by thousands of people. This dog y’all! ❤️” Ethan is back with us at the shelter for the day but will go home again with Jeff tonight. We will continue to share updates daily on his progress so everyone can follow along on his road to recovery. Donations to help our lifesaving work mean so much to Ethan and to the thousands of shelter animals we care for each year. Thank you to everyone who has been moved to give in his honor. It means the absolute world to us. www.kyhumane.org/donate

UPDATE FEBRUARY 14: Ethan had a good night at Jeff’s house and is growing more comfortable. Jeff says, “Ethan had another great night last night. He seemed happy to be back at our house. He played with my other dogs and enjoys the snow but he does slip around a little on the snow that’s packed down. His back legs are getting stronger just not where he can run yet. But he definitely tries. He has also learned to take treats very gently and is even learning some commands. We went on a short walk through the neighborhood just to check out some new things. By far, the best thing about Ethan is his loving nature. He loves to snuggle on the ground and will come to anyone for head rubs. We again crashed on the couch, bypassing the comfortable dog bed on the floor, and when he lays down he can’t get close enough. He’s always squirming to get just a little closer and lay his head right next to mine. Ethan is such a special soul. I feel very blessed to be in his life ❤️” Ethan is back at the shelter today getting loved on by the staff but will return to Jeff’s for another sleepover tonight. Thank you all so much for your support and we’ll keep you updated on Ethan’s road to recovery!

UPDATE FEBRUARY 15: Ethan had another good night at Jeff’s house! He is getting used to everyone in the house and loves having doggy friends. We wanted to introduce you all to Ethan’s roommates; Ivy, Luna, Freya, Jinx and Molly. Jeff says, “I think Ethan has learned when we pull in the driveway. He gets up from a restful nap in the car and is super excited to come into the house. He comes in and seems to tell all the other dogs how his day went and then everyone gets excited about going out to play. I’m also in the process of adding a room to our house and he’s a wonderful helper. His job was to keep track of my gloves. Surprisingly, they were always in his mouth! It’s also very interesting the relationships he’s developed with the dogs. Luna mothers him like he’s her own and he enjoys being looked after. He plays with Freya and Jinx. It appears to me it’s a game of tag continually revolving around who’s ‘it’. He spends his time laying and cuddling with Ivy. (Although in her defense, she’s definitely not a player, she’s a rester) And Molly mostly stands back and directs everyone around. She lets them know when it’s time to play and time to chill out. Another funny thing about Ethan is that he loves the refrigerator. ?. He can be anywhere in the house and if anyone opens the refrigerator he comes trotting in and gets his face all in there. He doesn’t bother anything but it’s funny because it looks like he’s really looking for a snack. And then of course, it’s snuggle time and night time. He really does give the best hugs. Another wonderful day with such a beautiful spirit. ❤️” Thank you all so much for your support and we’ll keep you updated on Ethan’s road to recovery!

UPDATE FEBRUARY 16: EXCITING NEWS! So many people have reached out to us wanting to support Ethan and the animals of the Kentucky Humane Society by purchasing Ethan merchandise on our online Pawtique store. Our team was so touched by the outpouring of support that we went right to work designing a wide variety of items you can now purchase to support Ethan and the animals of KHS. The design came from a wonderful portrait that Emma, the daughter of a KHS volunteer, drew of Ethan when he was first starting to heal. We loved the drawing so much that we asked her permission to use it for items for Ethan? A huge thank you to Emma for her compassion and love for animals. Proceeds from Ethan merch go to support our lifesaving work and help us care for the thousands of animals who come through our doors each year.

UPDATE FEBRUARY 17:  Ethan spent his first full day at Jeff’s house yesterday due to the weather. He had a great day and enjoyed exploring the snowy yard with Jeff and his furry roommates. Jeff says, “Yesterday was a different kind of day for Ethan. He was able to stay all day at my house. This led to snow exploring and snow playing. And, of course, a lot of resting. Sometimes I wish I could be recording all the time because he does some of the cutest things. He’s so proud of himself that he can climb on the big bed all by himself. So very sweet. He also likes to lay close to the other dogs but he doesn’t like to encroach on their area so sometimes he just lays next to them while they’re on the bed. He’s very respectful of space, except after he eats. For a short time after he eats he likes to be very frisky with the girl dogs. ?. Which occasionally leads to a brief stint in the timeout area. ??‍♂️ This dog makes me laugh everyday. And, of course, thank the universe for his strength and determination. ❤️” 

UPDATE FEBRUARY 18: While Ethan has been spending his nights resting at Jeff’s house, he still comes to the shelter daily to be monitored and to have blood work done to ensure he’s still improving. Yesterday his white blood cell count was higher than we’d like and we believe he may be fighting an infection. He’s also had some diarrhea so we’ve started him on medicine for both conditions in addition to his daily vitamins. We’re keeping a close eye on him today and making sure he stays on track with his progress. Thank you all for your continued support and we’ll keep you updated on how he’s feeling!

UPDATE FEBRUARY 19: Good morning everyone! Yesterday we reported that Ethan’s bloodwork indicated he has a small infection. This is not unexpected, as his body was essentially shut down from starvation, which is why our veterinary team has been monitoring his bloodwork every few days. We want to assure everyone that Ethan is doing very well and is responding great to antibiotics. And we are thrilled that he is now 76 pounds! This is double his initial weight of 38 pounds on January 29. He will be staying at Jeff’s house today to get some extra rest and to hang out with his doggy pals. He is taking his medicine like a champ and we will run bloodwork again on Monday. Thank you so much for the support!

UPDATE FEBRUARY 20: ETHAN’S FIRST BARK! Ethan let out his first bark on camera today while supervising Jeff’s home construction project. He had been trying to get the attention of the other dogs in the yard for several minutes and finally let out this joyful bark! Jeff was one proud foster daddy and immediately shared the video with us. This is the first time we’ve heard Ethan bark and it filled our hearts with pride! From the brink of starvation to this, we cannot believe it! A big thank you to everyone who continues to cheer Ethan on and follow his progress. If you’d like to support the Kentucky Humane Society, donations to help with our lifesaving work mean so much to Ethan and to the thousands of shelter animals we care for each year. Thank you to everyone who has been moved to give in his honor. It means the absolute world to us. www.kyhumane.org/donate

UPDATE FEBRUARY 21: Ethan had an exciting Saturday and got to meet some new friends at Jeff’s house! Jeff says, “Ethan had a fun-filled day Saturday. There was plenty of time for play outside as the weather warmed up a bit. He was also supervising the construction project. While the drill and the saw don’t bother him at all, if you get out the vacuum lookout, he turns into a scaredy cat. ? His personality is just so funny. He enjoys playing so much right now and currently, he’s into soft plush toys. He doesn’t chew them up, he just likes to continually bite down on them. I think it feels good to him. He definitely relished the afternoon nap though. Ethan had a new experience Saturday as we had some house guests over to visit. In typical Ethan form, he was very charming (translation, I’m gonna sit on your lap and hug you till you fall over) and always wants to snuggle. I was very proud of him, he did excellent with the adults and the younger ones too. After dinner, though….it’s cuddle time. He saw Dana and I on the couch and decided he had to be on our laps. ? Such a sweet boy!” We’ll update everyone again tomorrow. Have a great Sunday and thank you for your support!

UPDATE FEBRUARY 22: Ethan had a relaxing day at Jeff’s house yesterday. He will be coming back to the shelter today so our team can run bloodwork and ensure he’s still improving with the help of the antibiotics. We’ll keep everyone updated! Jeff says, “After an exciting and fun-filled Saturday, we decided Sunday would be a nice lazy dog day. The normal outside play led to several afternoon naps. We decided to take a quick trip to Feeders Supply to pick up a new pooper scooper. While there we met several Feeders employees who have been following his story. He gave some wags and licks of thanks and appreciation and for the most part did really well. He really just wants to love on people. His progress has been nothing short of incredible. The sheer volume of people that are supporting him and rooting for his well-being blows me away. I wish I could describe to everyone how truly special he is but the words just don’t seem to do justice. As wonderful as you think he is, he is so much more ❤️”

UPDATE FEBRUARY 23: After a relaxing Sunday with his foster family, Ethan spent yesterday being doted on by the Vet Services team at the shelter. We have great news: Ethan’s blood work continues to improve! His electrolytes are perfect and his white blood cell count is getting lower. While visiting the shelter, Ethan also checked out the donations sent in his honor, including handmade cards, coats and bowls. The outpouring of love for Ethan continues to warm our hearts. There is so much good in the world! There is just no way to thank you all enough. ❤️ When Ethan returned to his foster home yesterday evening, he had a long nap to recover from his activities of the day. This included laying on the dog bed, and also included him rolling right off the bed in his sleep, not waking up and just continuing to sleep. ? Then it was playtime outside followed by dinner time. After dinner, his routine includes climbing on the big bed and being as charming and wonderful and as adorable as he can possibly be. Thank you so much for supporting Ethan. It is truly amazing. ?

UPDATE FEBRUARY 24: Ethan has adjusted well to his normal weekday routine of going in to see the vet team during the day and spending his afternoons/nights at Jeff’s house. After interacting with his staff friends during the day, he gets so excited to go to Jeff’s house and tell the other dogs all about his adventures. He’s learning to play tug-of-war this week and has learned to sit on cue! After playtime, it’s dinner and then nap time. I don’t know if any of you have noticed, but Ethan loves his naps haha! Thank you all for your support and for continuing to follow along with Ethan on his journey to recovery.

UPDATE FEBRUARY 25: Ethan wanted to take a moment to say thank you to some kind people who have given him some awesome gifts. Tracy and Pat with Reclaimed Wood Magic on Etsy made this adorable food stand for Ethan! Tracy said, “We were more than happy to be able to make the stand for Ethan. It was the least we could do. He is just adorable. I love seeing all the updates on him. He is such an inspiration and a joy to watch his improvements daily. I have a 3 year old grandson that lives with me Ethan is all he talks about.” Thank you so much Tracy and Pat! We also want to thank the group Grizzy’s Journey for sending Ethan their book “Me, My Dog and a Sheep” and for donating 20% of proceeds from the book to help our shelter animals. You’re both amazing and we’re super grateful! If you’d like to see more of Tracy and Pat’s work on Etsy, visit: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ReclaimedWoodMagic

UPDATE FEBRUARY 26: KENTUCKY RESIDENTS – WE NEED YOUR HELP! House Bill 57 – which many are calling “Ethan’s Law” – would expand the definition of animal torture to include intentional gross neglect/abandonment with restraints. We are thrilled that this bill has overwhelming support in the House, and that 46 Representatives on both sides of the aisle have already signed on to co-sponsor this bill. But time is running out for the bill to be heard this session! If this bill goes to the Senate, it will need immediate action. If you are a Kentucky resident, please call 1-800-372-7181 and ask the Senate leadership and your Senator to welcome this bill and pass it. We hope that HB 57 will become Ethan’s legacy!

UPDATE FEBRUARY 27: Ethan heard that people wanted to hear from him so he thought he’d say a proper hello! This is Ethan’s typical response after eating breakfast each morning. He finishes his food, runs to the human bed and has a full conversation about how delicious the breakfast was. After all, it’s good manners to thank the chef after you finish your meal! Ethan weighed in at officially 80 lbs today! That means he is officially at his goal weight and has gained 42 lbs in the last month- more than twice his original weight of 38 lbs. Thank you all so much for your support and for following along with him on his road to recovery. We’ll post another update tomorrow.

UPDATE MARCH 2: Ethan did well with his neuter surgery yesterday and is feeling great! He even had a wonderful surprise: Ethan got to meet the young man and his family who helped save his life. On a cold January 29 around noon, the Henderson family came to the Kentucky Humane Society to donate stuffed toys for our shelter dogs. After they dropped off their donations, they saw what they thought was a dead dog in our parking lot lying on a white towel. They stopped their vehicle and jumped out of the car. They called the adoption desk and waited outside with Ethan until our staff came out and rushed him to our veterinary ward. Their 11-year-old son, Tatum, was understandably very upset to see a dog in such a horrific condition. They watched our Facebook page and were relieved to see the update on January 30 that Ethan was still alive. They have been following Ethan’s progress every day since then. A few days ago, Tatum’s grandmother reached out to ask if her grandson could meet Ethan now that he is healthy. We couldn’t agree more and arranged a meeting so Ethan could say a proper “thank you” to Tatum and his family. It is also just a couple of weeks from Tatum’s 12th birthday, so we got him a present of his very own “Team Ethan” shirt and a thank you card signed with Ethan’s paw.

UPDATE MARCH 4: We’ve had so many people asking “How old is Ethan? What should he weigh? What kind of dog is he?” Well, we have some answers! We originally thought Ethan was around three years old, but we now believe this playful boy is just one year old. During Ethan’s neuter surgery, our veterinarian found the tiniest baby tooth still in his mouth! ? Ethan is now up to 83 pounds, and he is continuing to put on weight and muscle. His original goal weight was 80 pounds, but we think he’ll top 90-100 pounds or more. We’ve had many people curious about what kind of dog Ethan is. The most popular guesses have been Great Dane, Cane Corso and Presa Canario. For fun, we had a DNA test done. DRUM ROLL… Ethan is our favorite kind of dog: a mix! He has Presa Canario, Mastiff, Argentine Dogo, Bull Dog, Cane Corso and American Staffordshire Terrier. (Sorry, Dane people! ? ) This big-hearted, goofy puppy has won the love of so many, who have been inspired by his miraculous recovery and his fun-loving personality!

UPDATE MARCH 6: Saturday was a day mostly of welcome rest for Ethan. He played outside in the nice weather for a bit but came in each time and found a different couch to sleep on. Although, he’s pretty much always falling asleep in the same pose. He lays in the funniest positions! He met a few new people on a quick trip to the hardware store, including a family friend who he was happy to take a picture with. A lazy evening ended with an early bedtime. It’s a ruff life!

UPDATE MARCH 7: Ethan had a busy, productive day yesterday! Jeff says, “Sunday was back to work for Ethan! We have to get our construction project completed. And while Ethan has perfected the glove watching job, he is definitely not a good drywall installer ?. He did get in some more goofy playtime on the big bed. And he also had a blast playing in the yard on such a nice day. Another funny habit he has developed is that when the blankets get washed, he likes to help carry them by putting one corner in his mouth and leading you to the room that they go in. ?. He’s a smart guy! An all-around wonderful day!?”

UPDATE MARCH 8: JOIN TEAM ETHAN! We cannot stress enough how much we have LOVED seeing the photos of you all rocking your Team Ethan merchandise. It’s so wonderful to see so many different people from all over the country supporting Ethan and our lifesaving work at the Kentucky Humane Society. THANK YOU! If you’d like to get your own Ethan merchandise, you can! All proceeds benefit the KHS shelter animals. Shop here: http://kyhumane.org/shopethan

UPDATE MARCH 9: Today we take one final walk down memory lane as we prepare for Ethan to go to his forever home. When Ethan was rushed back to our Veterinary Services department after being dumped in our parking lot, we had no idea if he would make it. Starved to the point of complete muscle loss and unable to hold his head up, we worked tirelessly to save his life. We’ve been asked what makes so Ethan special. And really, in some ways, he isn’t. There are dogs and cats like him all over the world that are in the shape he was in or worse, and fighting for their lives. On the other hand, Ethan is very special because he caught your attention. He caught the world’s attention. His near death and struggles have touched everyone’s hearts and brought people together in a way we haven’t seen in a long time. Ethan has served as a beacon of hope for so many and has shown what the power of love, hope and courage can really do. Today, we celebrate our magical friend and all he has overcome to get to this point. Tomorrow, we continue our lifesaving work to heal the thousands of Ethan’s of the world and ensure they have a bright future. If Ethan’s story has inspired you, please consider making a donation in his honor. Your gift will help us continue to save lives and heal the broken. We look forward to celebrating Ethan with you today and we hope everyone tunes in for our Facebook live at 11:10 a.m.

UPDATE MARCH 10: It’s Ethan’s adoption day! Watch his adoption on Facebook. We want to say a big thank you again to everyone who joined us for Ethan’s adoption celebration! To all of our wonderful media friends who joined us, thank you so much for all of the love and support. To all who have donated items or in honor of Ethan- you have made life so much better for so many shelter pets. Thank you for your compassion, dedication and selflessness. We appreciate you all so much! A big congratulations to Ethan and his new family!

UPDATE MARCH 11: Ethan now has his very own Facebook page where you can keep up with all of his antics! Please go give them a follow. A big congratulations again to Jeff and his family. We are so happy for you all of you!

 

Follow Ethan’s Story on Facebook

www.facebook.com/kyhumane 

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