Rescuer Jenny Leech is used to getting calls about old pups needing loving families — she has a large pack of senior and special needs pups that’s constantly growing. But when she learned about a particular senior Chihuahua in a shelter in Bellwood, Illinois, her heart sank like never before.

“[He was] found as a stray on a busy road during a very cold winter week …” Leech wrote on Facebook.

After rescuing the 14-year-old pup from the streets, the shelter workers placed him in a kennel and waited for someone to claim him. But days passed, and no one showed up.

The pup, later named Chester, retreated into the corner of his kennel and spent most of his time curled up in bed with his back facing the door. He dreamed of having a family and a cozy home, but he was quickly losing hope of ever finding one.

Chester remained quiet in his kennel, shut down from the rest of the world and unsure about his future. Then, one day, B.A.A.R.K. Dog Rescue caught wind of the depressed shelter pup and pledged to save his life. They connected with Leech, one of their longtime fosters, and secured a temporary home for Chester.

Leech soon welcomed Chester into her home, with her loving pack of seniors eager to meet their new sibling. Chester had some unique qualities that set him apart from the rest, but he still fit right in with the crew.

“He’s got a few lumps and bumps, [long] nails and is a bit off on the seeing and hearing,” Leech wrote on Facebook. “After a bath, he joined the ‘Chi Mafia’ effortlessly and is walking around with the big guys like he owns the place.”

Chester underwent a medical evaluation soon after going into foster care, in which doctors discovered a severe heart murmur and a series of rotten teeth. Despite his ailments, Chester’s new community of caregivers loved him immensely.

“[He’s] the cutest little old man with the stinkiest breath ever,” Leech wrote on Facebook.

It wasn’t long before Chester received an extensive dental cleaning and began a treatment plan for his heart condition. Leech hoped to find him a quieter forever home, with some potential adopters showing interest, but Chester sadly got sick again before his new life could begin.

A second round of emergency tests revealed that Chester was also suffering from a kidney infection, and his symptoms seemed to be worsening by the day. Thankfully, doctors were able to stabilize Chester, but his foster mom faced a hard decision about his future.

As much as she wished to see Chester in his own home, she instantly knew it’d be in his best interest to stay with her. With her extensive experience caring for sick senior dogs, Leech knew how to care for Chester and give him the absolute best days of his life.

“Tonight, he showed us he’s happy to be here by hanging with the crew, begging in the kitchen and eating a good dinner …” Leech wrote on Facebook. “It’s not the happily-ever-after we pictured for him, but we are honored to be his forever family.”

While keeping Chester wasn’t their original plan, the Leeches enjoy every minute they get with the resilient little guy. They monitor him every day, keep up with his treatment plan and love him through it all.

Once a depressed shelter dog, Chester now has a giant family of his own and gets to spend the rest of his life by their side. For a pup who’d almost given up hope of having a home, he simply wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Here’s to the best part of forever for little Chester ….” Leech wrote.

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Source: New York Post