Butch The Boston Terrier Was Neglected And Dying: What This Family Did For Him Will Touch Your Heart

Butch, a Boston terrier, was abandoned by his owner and left to wander a neighborhood in Pinson, Alabama. Nobody took him in or called animal control — he just became a neighborhood stray. Sometimes people in the neighborhood fed him, sometimes he ate garbage, and sometimes he went hungry. He survived the best he could.

Butch wasn’t bred to be an outdoor dog, and according to the Boston Terrier Club of America, Bostons are “people dogs” who deteriorate in the absence of human companionship. After two and a half years of scraping by, Butch collapsed in a yard the week before Thanksgiving, struggling to breath and close to death.

According to USA Today, Alicia Buzbee and her daughter Kansas Humphrey, who lived in another neighborhood, heard about the Boston terrier’s plight and took Butch in. They took him to their vet, who gave the dog steroids to help with his breathing, then contacted the Birmingham Boston Terrier Rescue, which took the Butch immediately and had him examined by their vets.

The diagnosis wasn’t good. Butch had diminished lung capacity, his trachea was leaking, and his heart was swollen. There was little the vet could do for him and he was scheduled for a humane euthanasia.

“Boston Terriers aren’t supposed to be outside dogs at all,” Alicia told AL.com. “We’re not sure how old he is. I figured if he’s been roaming for 2 ½ years, Butch may be four or five, if that. He looks old because he’s been living on the street, and he hasn’t had the care he deserves.”

Alicia and Kansas couldn’t bear to see poor Butch put down without ever knowing the love of a good home. Since his breathing had improved with the steroids, they asked if they could take him home to give him some comfort before the inevitable happened. The Boston Terrier Rescue agreed to delay the euthanasia, and the mother and daughter did their best to make the last few days of Butch’s life the best he had ever had.

They showered him with attention, even gave him a party. He ate like a king. He had treats and toys and someone to play with. They introduced him to Santa, and took him to the park for a going away party. And when he got tired, Butch slept curled up beside Kansas.

For a brief time, Butch rallied and the family hoped that he might be getting better since he was receiving medical care and had found a loving home, but unfortunately it was too late for him. Butch had a relapse Friday, struggling to breathe again. Alicia tried to help him, sending for oxygen, but his lungs were so damaged it didn’t help. His swollen heart couldn’t pump the blood he needed and he was in pain.

Thousands of animals are abandoned or neglected every year, so many, the Inquisitr reports, that the FBI has added animal cruelty to their list of crimes against society. Some of these animals are rescued and recover from the neglect — some, like poor Butch, are not so lucky. Despite the TLC Alicia and her daughter gave him, Butch didn’t make it.

“Before he goes, I want him to look into my eyes, and I want to look into his eyes, and I want to whisper, I love you. I love you. I love you,” she said. “I want him to hear those words and to see those faces of the people who love him.”

Thanks to Alicia and Kansas, he did. Before he died, he finally got to experience the security and love of a family — if only for a few days.

[Image credits Alicia Buzbee and Kansas Humphrey via AL.com]