Now, his life couldn’t be more different. Far from being kept tied up outside in the cold, Rusty will get to enjoy his senior years with his loving new owner, exploring the sunny beaches of Florida. Video shared by the animal rights organization shows Rusty happily walking on the beach with his owner.

Finally, Rusty is a “indoor dog” and loves cuddling on the couch with his new owners, a pleasure he had never had in his life. Thanks to his rescuers, Rusty’s life has dramatically changed after being neglected for so long.

In the press announcement, PETA Senior Vice President Daphna Nachminovitch stated, “It took nearly ten years for PETA’s fieldworkers to free Rusty from his continuous confinement in a dirt prison cell, but they never gave up on him.” “To help ensure that dogs like Rusty aren’t kept chained outdoors like an old bicycle, PETA urges everyone to keep their companion animals indoors with the rest of the family and to lobby elected officials to ban unattended tethering.”

Although we’re happy that Rusty was saved and now has a loving family, no dog should have to live their entire life chained outside in the cold. We are aware that he will walk on the sunny beaches for the remainder of his days.

If you are a dog lover, please share this tale!