Shelter Dog Saved From Euthanasia Gets Second Chance at Life: 'Giant Smile'

Rescuing a dog is an incredibly rewarding way of owning a pet, knowing that you have given an abandoned animal, often in a hopeless situation, a new and happy home.

One dog who was given a second chance, and then some, is Max, an 11-year-old boxer and Staffordshire terrier mix. He had been sick and at one stage was on a euthanasia list, before he recovered and held on at a shelter for several months and finally found a loving new owner.

In a video posted to Instagram by Rachel Gwozdz, Max and her other dog, Stella, can be seen floating around on an inflatable kayak, both complete with shark-fin life vests.

"This is just an adorable moment I captured floating on our favorite lake in the Catskills," Gwozdz told Newsweek. "I was reading my Kindle, my dogs were just relaxing and taking in the sights, sounds and smells. The giant smile on my dog Max's face absolutely warmed my heart. He loves to perch on things, so he is performing his best downward dog on the side of the kayak. He has no intention of getting in however," she added. "He's terrified of water, but finds the kayak really relaxing."

Describing Max as an "absolute goofball of a dog" Gwozdz explained that he has been with her for nine years, after being a frequent "in and out" guest of a shelter in South Carolina. "He was found outside and dropped off, adopted and returned multiple times," said Gwozdz. "He ended up getting a little sick and was unfortunately added to their euthanasia list. A no kill shelter here in New York called the North Shore Animal League was able to transport him to their shelter."

Despite surviving the euthanasia list, Max spent a few months at his new shelter with little interest.

"He was extremely high energy and not very interested in people," she said. "I fell in love with his photo and the giant smile on his face (same one he gets when I take him kayaking) and the rest is history! He has been my best friend for 9 years now, going strong!"

Each year 6.3 million pets are surrendered to U.S. shelters, which is an average of 17,260 a day, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The number of dogs and cats taken in by pet shelters hit 46,807 during January 2023, an increase of 1,744 compared with January 2022, the 24Pet "Shelter Watch Report" found. Around 920,000 surrendered animals are euthanized every year. Shelters are striving to minimize euthanasia rates by promoting adoption campaigns, spaying and neutering programs, and behavior rehabilitation.

Gwozdz adopted Stella when Max began to show signs of "only child syndrome," she said. "I showed up that day with Max and they took us to a room to have the dogs meet," she said. "Max was immediately smitten. She was a bit overwhelmed and shy, but he brought her every single toy in the room, kept trying to initiate play with her, and was generally obsessed with her from day 1."

In an effort to help more animals, Gwozdz also fosters kittens.

"Max could not care less about them; he will leave a room if they invade his space...he can be picky. Although a select few have worn him down and he's been known to share a bed with a couple that he clearly really liked. Stella on the other hand... the only word we can use to sum up her feelings is obsessed. She is absolutely momma to them all! We have had around 30+ foster kittens/cats, and she has lovingly cared for all of them. We actually did not intend to foster this much, but seeing her reaction to the first litter we had, we knew she was meant to be a foster mom to kittens! When they get adopted and leave us, she gets pretty sad and mopey. That's when we call the rescue up and say we can take another pair!"

The amount of dogs and cats entering shelters has declined by 1.1 million since 2011, according to the ASPCA. Despite this decline, many people remain hesitant about rescuing rather than purchasing their pets.

"I think hesitation is natural and justified, and part of the pet ownership process is whether adopt or shop," said Gwozdz. "The most important thing is to pick an animal that fits into your life style (size, energy level, breed needs), and to understand that pet ownership is a life-long commitment. If you are hesitant about adopting from a shelter or rescue, most of them have foster programs and I would recommend starting off with a pet in a foster home. And if you're new to pet ownership, I highly recommend getting experience by fostering! You will quickly learn what type of animal (age, breed, size, energy level) is best suited for you, while helping out an animal in need."

"How wonderful for him. This is what life should be !!!!," commented one user. "Sweetest little shark ever," wrote another user.

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