Sometimes a sad beginning leads to the happiest of endings.
Travelers at Harry Reid International Airport were heartbroken last week when they spotted a 2-year-old goldendoodle mix tied to a railing near the ticket counter, abandoned by his owner who couldn't take him on a flight.
But the dog, nicknamed 'JetBlue' (and later 'Chewy' by rescuers), didn't stay lonely for long. Once his story hit the news, the phone at the local shelter didn't stop ringing.
In just 48 hours, The Animal Foundation received over 2,400 adoption applications from families across the country hoping to give the airport pup a forever home. The response was so massive that the shelter had to pause applications.
'It really restores your faith in humanity,' said a shelter spokesperson. 'For one person who let him down, there were thousands stepping up to say, "I will love you."
Chewy is now safe in a foster home and will be matched with a perfect family after a thorough vetting process. His story has also sparked a surge in adoptions for other dogs at the shelter, proving that his difficult journey has helped save many other lives too.