It’s a painful experience for anyone who has ever had to put their dog to death. But sometimes there’s just no other option. It’s the most considerate thing to do after the pain has continued for too long.

I hope you never go through it yourself, but if you do, it’s crucial that you stick by your best buddy through everything. No dog should have to live out its last days in fear, surrounded by strangers.

In this particular tale, Starfish, the puppy, was discovered in a crate with her legs bent at an odd angle.

It was assumed that she would need to be put to death when the person who found her hurried her to a veterinarian. There was nothing that could be done for her because she had been crushed.

The dog was just too severely wounded, but the veterinarian was reluctant to put her down. Keeping her alive wasn’t fair.

However, the head of the shelter entered the room and stopped the euthanasia of Starfish just seconds before it was scheduled to happen.

She sought a second opinion on Starfish, according to The Dodo.

So they transported the dog to a different veterinarian. A more optimistic prognosis was issued following a comprehensive assessment.

“Swimmer Puppy Syndrome” was a disability that starfish had just been born with. However, she could be fully cured with the correct assistance.

Starfish seems more suited to swimming than to walking like a typical puppy.

But there was something truly endearing about her. Before long, a family expressed interest in adopting her.

The small dog captured our hearts. Owner Leigh Anne Gray adds, “She taught us something we’d never seen before.”

“I instantly became attached when I saw Starfish.