This beautiful dog was just two-years-old when he was saved by volunteers after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, and nearly a decade later, he's giving back to the rescue community in a very special way.
The Arizona Humane Society rescued over 300 dogs in the region in the aftermath of the 2005 super-storm, including the Chow-Golden Retriever mix, Boots. Through their efforts, around 60 animals were reunited with their pet parents, although Boots was not so fortunate.
“His paws were so ripped up,” Bretta Nelson, a spokeswoman for the humane society, told TODAY.com. “He had (such) intense burns on his paws that he needed medical attention — hence, how he got the name Boots.”
Now Boots is happy and healthy, and has been adopted by his new loving mama, EAMT volunteer Susan Juergensen, after fostering at her home and developing a close relationship with her cat. What he's doing now with fellow kitties is truly heartwarming.
Make sure to scroll to the bottom of the page to watch Boots interacting with his new kitten friends!
Please SHARE Boots' incredible story of altruism and love with everyone you know!
1. Four weeks ago, Boots began his journey as a shelter volunteer, where he helps very young kittens acclimate to dog companionship.
2. Kittens that get along well with dogs have a far better chanced of being adopted, according to the shelter, and they have taken an instant liking to sweet Boots.
3. “Kittens have a very small window of time, when they’re growing up — from the 2-week to 7-week age range — in which the things they are exposed to are going to positively impact them for the rest of their life,” Nelson said to TODAY.com
4. “It’s fun to see him again after so many years,” feline welfare specialist, Liz Truitt, said to TODAY.com “He’s been an unofficial nanny for us."
5. "He doesn’t care about what the kittens [do]. He doesn’t get excited. He doesn’t get in their face. He just basically lets them come to him on their terms. It’s the perfect first interaction with a dog for these guys.”
6. This is Boots at the time of his rescue from New Orleans.
7. “With Boots, it’s that old [saying] of ‘Who rescued who?’'" said Truitt. “He’s truly paying it forward.”
8. Boots now lives in Phoenix, AZ with his mama and two cats.
9. “He’s the sweet little dog he’s always been,” Truitt said. “He just has a few extra gray hairs.”
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H/T: TODAY.com, Daily Mail
