An overweight golden Labrador with a serious eye condition was dumped at an Australian Gold Coast city pound at 10 years of age. After a heartfelt campaign on social media to help improve her condition, however, the blind senior dog, which was named Dumpling, won hearts across the nation.
Dumpling even found the perfect forever home with a new family that loves her completely, seeing past her unique disability.
After almost a month alone at the city pound, the Brisbane-based Labrador Rescue caught wind of the sweet, visually impaired senior dog and took her into their care. On Jan. 21, 2020, the rescue group took to
Facebook.
“[Dumpling] was overweight and her eyes were causing her lots of pain,” they wrote. “[S]he was blind already so the vet suggested the kindest thing was to remove her eyes to treat the pain.”
According to Australia’s
7 News, Dumpling’s rescuers believed that she had been abandoned by her previous owners after having expended her usefulness by birthing a litter of puppies. A strong online community of animal lovers, however, soon fell in love with the adorable older dog.
The rescue team described Dumpling as “extremely sweet, charming, and good natured,” as per
News.com.au. Dumpling, they explained, had been sharing a foster home with cats and another dog, all of which had gotten along well; she would make the perfect laid-back family pet.
Photos accompanying the shout-out included snaps of the sweet senior dog wearing a red bandana around her neck bearing the words, “ADOPT ME.” The campaign had the desired effect of capturing hearts.
According to the
Daily Mail, Labrador Rescue was inundated with 63 offers within just two days, all from people willing to adopt Dumpling into a permanent home.
“Our little Dumpling has become a massive social media star,” Labrador Rescue wrote on
Facebook. “[H]er story has been shared far and wide by our supporters, celebrities, news sites; it’s been overwhelming!”
On Jan. 17, a meet-and-greet was scheduled between Dumpling and a potential adoptive couple, Craig and Deborah Ingebrigtsen. It turned out to be a match made in heaven. “She was in care 6 months,” Labrador Rescue explained on
Facebook, “and has just found a great home.”
Before sending Dumpling to her new home, her carers posted a heartfelt message of thanks of social media to Dumpling’s fosterer and the vets and pet store that made her eye surgery possible.
The previously overweight pup even lost 13 kilograms (approx. 29 pounds) under veterinary supervision. Her new life had begun.
Dumpling quickly settled into her new home in southeast Queensland. The icing on the cake for the senior pup was a new best friend just waiting for her in her new home, a chocolate Lab named Bobby that was just as delighted to meet Dumpling as she was to meet him.
Dumpling’s previous fosterer, Ashleigh, told
News 7 that the Ingebrigtsens had stood out among the many, many offers of adoptive homes. “I love that they have another dog and treat him like he’s a family member,” she said. “I want [Dumpling] to have her last golden oldie years with someone who is going to adore her.”
The Ingebrigtsens, keen to keep their caring online community up to date on Dumpling’s progress, launched an
Instagram page for Dumpling and her new “fur brother” on which to chronicle the pups’ antics and comfortable home life. To date, the page already has over 1,500 followers.
“She’s adorable,” new owner Deborah told
7 News. “We’re really grateful that we’ve been given the opportunity to look after her and give her the wonderful life that she deserves.”
