Senior dog about to be euthanized, then she does the unexpected—”not today”
A family saying an emotional goodbye to their 17-year-old rescue dog, Luna, were given an unexpected and heartwarming boost when the senior pup made a miraculous recovery just moments before her scheduled euthanasia.
A toy poodle mix, Luna lives in Baltimore, Maryland, with her owners Dr. Melo-Jean Yap and Taina Brown, and their other senior rescue Foxy. Luna was adopted from Best Friends Animal Society seven years ago.
“Luna wasn’t eating, she couldn’t stand, and she seemed like she was shutting down,” Yap told Newsweek. “After almost 24 hours at the emergency vet with no improvement, the vet recommended euthanasia. We didn’t want to prolong her suffering, so we agreed.”
But just as her owners were preparing for the difficult moment and saying their goodbyes to their beloved pet, Luna surprised everyone. “It was around 5 p.m., just after her normal dinnertime,” Yap said. “Luna suddenly tried to jump out of my arms. We thought maybe she had to pee, so we put her down, but then she just started walking around.”
What happened next stunned even the vet staff. Luna, who hadn’t eaten for days, devoured a treat placed on the floor. “We couldn’t believe it. She hadn’t shown any interest in food, but there she was, munching down her favorite treat,” said Yap. They offered her baby food, which Luna eagerly ate as well.
“Luna was letting us know she wasn’t ready yet,” said Yap. “We canceled the euthanasia and took her home.”
By the time they returned home, Luna had regained enough strength to stand and eat her full dinner. The family, grateful for the unexpected turn of events, said they’re continuing to monitor her closely. “We know it’s coming, just not that day,” Yap said.
The family has since shared Luna’s miraculous recovery with their Instagram community, where they said, “She told us not today.” The story has touched the hearts of more than a million viewers. “We feel so blessed by all the well wishes,” Yap said. “We hope to celebrate her 18th birthday in December.”
Luna, described by her owners as “sassy” and “a big food lover,” continues to enjoy her days with the family, even taking short walks. The family is cherishing every moment, saying they’ll let Luna guide them when the time does come.
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