Despite being abandoned on the side of a road last month, a 1-year-old German Shepherd is on the brink of his happily-ever-after.
Amos, formerly known as Max, is on his way to finding a permanent home thanks to the combined efforts of animal welfare organizations and concerned citizens in Dallas, per WFAA.
Amos was dumped, allegedly by his former owner, near Dowdy Ferry Road and Teagarden Road in Southeast Dallas on March 8, The Dallas Express previously reported.
Ramiro Zuniga, 41, was apparently caught on a surveillance camera monitored by the Dowdy Ferry Animal Commission (DFAC) pushing the dog out of a vehicle and driving away.
After the footage went viral, Zuniga was identified by a family member, arrested by Dallas police for committing a misdemeanor act of animal cruelty, and taken to the Dallas County jail. Zuniga is currently confined to a federal cell in Alvarado due to issues with his immigration status, per WFAA.
A happier fate was in store for Amos, who was picked up by Dallas Animal Services (DAS).
DFAC is an animal welfare organization created in 2015 in response to Dowdy Ferry Road becoming an illegal dumping ground for animals, alive or dead.
After several weeks in the custody of DAS, Amos was transferred to City Vet Preston Forest, where he is receiving treatment for a mild respiratory infection.
Local animal shelters have been embattled by rising dog flu cases, as The Dallas Express reported. Although typically not fatal, it is highly contagious, especially in overcrowded shelter settings.
As he visited Amos at the vet on April 3, Jeremy Boss of DFAC told WFAA that people nationwide expressed interest in adopting the young pup, and he couldn’t be happier about it.
“This is why I keep on going. Amos is one of the reasons I keep on going,” Boss said. “We finally get an interview where I’m actually smiling and tearing up because he’s a precious baby that did not need to be discarded. He’s going to have an amazing home.”
The animal rescue organization IF Dogs has offered to help facilitate Amos’ adoption process. If he doesn’t appear under the website’s available dogs, he may have already found a home.
While Amos’ story garnered national attention, many other rescue animals equally deserving of kindness and compassion are still waiting in shelters.
DAS recently waived adoption fees and added several other incentives to see these animals either fostered or adopted, as The Dallas Express reported.
DAS will hold an adoption event on Saturday, April 15, between 1 and 3 p.m. during the AAA Texas Teen Driver Safety Fair at the Campbell Green Rec Center on Park Hill Drive.
