After years of neglect because of his deformed face, a yellow lab has finally found his happy forever home.
Six-year-old pup Beaux Tox was born in Texas with a malformed skull as a result of sharing his mother’s womb with six other dogs, leaving his cranium sunken and forcing his eyes very close together.
By some miracle, Beaux Tox’s deformity didn’t have an effect on his heath nor his intelligence, yet still his breeders struggled to find an owner willing to take him in.
Hard life: Six-year-old yellow lab Beaux Tox was born with a facial deformity that left his breeders struggling to sell him as a pup
From the start: The pup was left with a sunken cranium and close-set eyes after vying for space in his mother’s womb with his five brothers and sisters
Eventually, the lab was given away for free to a man who forced the dog to live in the backyard for five years because his cats didn’t like the dog in the house. He was alone most of the time and didn’t even have a dog bed to sleep on.
There were multiple attempts by local animal rescue groups to find him a different home, but because he had been left outside his entire life without any training, he was repeatedly returned to the lonely backyard.
Finally, the pooch was spotted on social media by a woman named Jamie Hulit, who felt moved to lend a hand.
‘A friend of mine posted a picture of Beaux on Facebook saying he needed a foster or to be adopted — anything,’ Hulit told The Dodo. “That day I sent him a message saying, “I would love to take that dog in and give him a home.”‘
Still whole: Even though Beaux’s deformity doesn’t affect his health or his intelligence, no one was willing to buy him
First home: He was eventually given away to a man who left Beaux in his backyard when the cats didn’t take a liking to him
Love at first site: After five years of neglect, Beaux was spotted in a Facebook post by Jamie Hulit, who felt moved to help him
She went to the house to pick him up and found ‘a shell of a dog.’ He was infected with ear mites, covered in fleas and his fur just barely covered his emaciated form.
Despite his appearance, Hulit adopted the pup on the spot before taking him straight to the vet.
Unfortunately there was more heartbreak yet to come. Doctors at Hoegemeyer Animal Clinic in Kerrville, Texas, informed Hulit that Beaux tested positive for heartworm, a condition that can lead to permanent organ damage. They also said that he was too weak to begin treatment.
The next month was a rollercoaster of emotions for Hulit, as Beaux was in and out of an oxygen tank during recovery. The vet, Dr. Rydberg, even called her in one night at 3am when he thought Beaux might not make it to dawn.
On his way: She adopted him immediately and took him to the vet, where he was diagnosed with heartworm and was in and out of an oxygen tank while he recovered
Happy home: He proved to be a fighter, eventually recovering enough to go home with Jamie
Brothers for life: Beaux now lives with Jamie and her 13-year old golden retriever mix, Riley
But despite such odds stacked against him, Beaux starting putting on weight and eventually became healthy enough to be treated for his heartworm. Soon enough, he was given the all clear to go home with Hulit, albeit with some vision loss in his right eye and hearing loss in his left ear.
Now, Beaux is finally living a happy life with Hulit and her 13-year old golden retriever mix, Riley.
‘Riley and Beaux absolutely love each other,’ said Hulit. ‘They’re perfect for each other even with the age difference and even though Beaux acts like a puppy — it helps Riley stay young.’
Beaux has changed so much since his rescue, Hulit said, that he has even become a total indoor dog.
‘He’ll go out if you do, but if you stay in, he’ll stand right by the door and look through the window,’ she said.