It’s never too late to help a dog in need and give it the love it deserves. Most of the time we hear about puppies being rescued, but older dogs can benefit from it just as much. The story of Toothless proves just that. This is the tremendous bond that formed between Cody Leightenheimer and the dog he gave a second chance… and the life it deserved.
“I was working at a wood flooring factory a couple months after. I had an entire wing, basically, to myself. One day I was staining some custom furniture for my boss’s getaway Florida home when I looked at the other end of the hangar length building to see a little puppy. I instantly wanted to abandon post and grab the thing for cuddles but I had work to get done. This pup wasn’t having none of that though. He walked up to me and stared at me with his huge eyes. I pet him and noticed instantly that he was flea covered, matted and not in the best physical shape. As I looked closer I realized that he had a lot of gray around his muzzle, ears and face.”
“I got him chicken-ish fast food during my lunch because he was so thin that I could feel his bones. I started sending these pictures to my wife planning on pleading to bring him home. I didn’t have to because she beat me to the punch.”
“I thought that I would have to herd him away from doors all day until I could clock out and take him home. The little guy fell asleep on the floor and stayed there all day.”
They took him home and cleaned him up, removing dozens of fleas. A visit to the vet resulted in this list of existing conditions: 1. Stunted growth from malnutrition. 2. Cataracts and one small pupil from blunt force trauma to the head. 3. Ulcers in his stomach causing vomiting. 4. Four oronasal fistulas in his mouth caused by his teeth rotting out of his head. 5. Completely deaf.
They learned that he was a Shetland Sheepdog, somewhere between 8 to 12 years old. He weighed 7.3 lbs.
Janet Nash
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The only thing sweeter than this darling little dog is the love he was honoured with in his last year. You are a wonderful family and I thank you for bringing affection to this wee fella.
Alice Bowers Maloney
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Rest peacefully Toothless…you were loved by two very special angels
Susana Ware
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He is a sweetie
Lola Heck
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Such a beautiful little puppy. Thank you for giving this puppy loving care for the last days of its life. R.I.P. beautiful puppy…
Christine Frank
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To the owners, thank you, thank you for rescuing and loving Toothless. She died knowing love.
Cathy Wierenga
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<3
Randall Roop
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Bless those people
Jean Mcrobert
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I can’t even read …. his sweet little face … and knowing he passed …..
Dawn Bush
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Thank god there are still families like this in the world. You made such a difference in the life of the sweet shelter. Bless you.
Linda Sherman Humphreys Dunn
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Beautiful, precious baby. Thank you for loving him (her).
Eileen Starr
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Lovely fell in love with this puppy too
Sandy Keefe
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First and foremost Thank you for being good humans to this beautiful defenseless innocent baby. You showed him love security and compassion for the time he had left in this world. I hope whomever abused him gets what they deserve. Karma. No one has the right to abuse torture eat beat fight kill any animal. They are not disposable. They have so much love to give. They are innocent beings.
Dan Owczarzak
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God bless the folks that adopted him.
Sherri Howes-Meagher
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RIP baby. You got and deserved a fantastic home at the end. Off to the Rainbow Bridge where your family will be with you once again and you will be whole and healthy.
Jo Anne Smith
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I’m so sorry he only got a year but I’m glad the year was with a loving family.
Brigitte Laschinsky Or Peter
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For sure an inspiring story with a bittersweet ending but I am sure “toothless” loved the love that was guiding him to how final days – and he gave thousandfold back what he received !!!
Rebecca Rabalais
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He had love, people , and a happy home for a year. God bless your family for giving him that, he knew what a loving home was.
Mary Jo Anderson Robertson
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thank you for making his final year a great one
William Luebben
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I should not read these things.
Margaret Bossong
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This made me cry. God bless you and your family for giving his final years full of love and care and warmth.You obviously made him very happy . Thank you for rescuing him.
Ellen Hein
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You were great loving parents
Lynn Bickford
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Bless you and your family and the love you had for this little boy!!
Charity Tropp
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Glad the story was so funny to you.
Pauletta Evans-hanselman
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What a wonderful story kudos to the family who loved him!!
Joy L Carson
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Had a beautiful Sheltie lady just had to have her put down a week ago very hard and miss her so much she was my fur baby!!
What a caring heart you have to have cared for this little guy..
Daniela De Souza Ferreyra
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Dafne Navarro
Dafne Navarro
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PARALA WE YA MUCHO DOGGO
Trudi Elise Lichty
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God bless this precious baby always and forever
Eagle Paradise
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SEMPER FI TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY ALWAYS
MAY HIS LOVE SHINE FOREVER
Estela Ortañez-Navarro
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Thank u for loving & taking good care of this sweet poor little dog. At least. Baby is now in a safe & better place over the rainbow bridge!
Jocelyn Cerezo
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Àmazing story. Thanks for making Toothless happy, loved and care for until his last breath.
Herb Pinkert
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He sounded like a sweet little guy. Glad you let him feel love for at least a year. Don’t understand why people feel the need to hurt animals like this. I know if I ever see if happen I will make sure I hurt them more then they hurt an animal
Thelma Smith
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That is so sweet
Adena Nadine Paterson
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RIP beautiful fur baby Toothless. Both So blessed to have experienced unconditional love. He’s with the Angels now.
June Kay
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Lovely story
Trish Marshall
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Beautiful dog ❤️
Magda Sinms
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Thank heaven baby had a good loving home and was able to die relaxed knowing love at last bless him
Dedette Magno Buhat
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RIP Toothless, at least even if it was only for a short period of time, he experienced how it was to loved and be loved in return. Thank you, and may God bless ur family for sharing your home and extending your hands on taking very good care of this poor soul on the remaining days of his life
Sarah Jane Turner
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Tears are rolling, beautiful story. RIP little dog x
Heidi Haslam
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RIP BEAUTIFUL DOGGY U GONE TO A BETTER PLACE
Chris York
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Animals are special creatures who need our love an care..wish more people would do what you did..thank you!
Cynthia Murray
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.
Barb Rosa
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God Bless!
Kathy Brown- Carter
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Ty for sharing, and for taking him in. Others would have walked away. Now go find another 🙂
Toni Keen
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Travis Keen
Jaz Wyinniarsczyk-Miller
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That made me cry. It’s so nice that there is still some people out there that will go above and beyond for animals no matter their age! ❤️
Love SamDel
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God bless you Cody…Kasie …mom and dad for the unconditional LOVE you’ve given beautiful precious TOOTHLESS…you are all truly a wonderful and kind people!!!
May your beloved TOOTHLESS rest in peace!!!
Kathy Hamlin Ward
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all life is precious…
Lisa Dalton
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What a beautiful story, thank you for giving him those memories to carry with him. God just got an amazing gift and I’m sure y’all will be together again one day to make more memories. God bless you and your family! I wish there was more people in this world that would do what y’all did for him. One day I want to open a place where all the homeless dogs old guys and of course puppies can just live their lives in peace and love. That is my dream, what is yours?
Barbara Seifridsberger
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so sad rip