Heartbreak as Sweet Yellow Lab Keeps Getting Ignored at Shelter—All Because of This Thing
There’s nothing quite as heart-rending as watching a shelter dog get overlooked time and again, not because they have deep-seated behavioral issues or aren’t affectionate enough. But simply because they suffer from a medical condition — something they have zero control over.
This is the reality for 6-year-old Monte, a Yellow Labrador Retriever who’s been at Animal Haven in NYC for far too long. (Watch Video Below)
@animalhaven Join Monte for a trip to Camp Underdog! 🏕️🐕 Monte has Megaesophagus, a condition where the esophagus is enlarged and doesn't function normally to keep food and water down. Because of this, Monte eats all his meals in a special chair that keeps him upright during and after eating. Monte is a total pro at using his chair, and will need to keep up this routine for life. Beyond that, he's just like any other dog! This condition has made it tough to find Monte a home, which is why we try to get him out of the shelter on Camp Underdog trips as much as possible! Monte loved his time rolling in hay, sniffing through the grass, and getting some extra snuggles from a few of his favorite people. 🥰 Interested in adopting Monte? We'd love to introduce you to him! Reach out to schedule a meet & greet. #adoptdontshop #animalhaven #campunderdog #dogsofnyc ♬ original sound – Animal Haven
Monte is a solid 10/10 as far as an incredible canine companion goes. Sadly, most potential adopters visiting the shelter lose interest once they learn that Monte is a special needs pup. Monte lives with a condition known as Megaesophagus, which affects the normal flow of food from his mouth to the stomach. Even though this condition doesn’t prevent Monte from being the sweet, joyful dog that he’s always been ever since he was a puppy, many visitors simply walk away when they read his medical chart. No one stops by Monte’s kennel long enough to see what he has to offer.
Monte has, for months, been made to feel unworthy of a forever home, just because he isn’t picture-perfect health-wise.
A Special Dog With Special Needs
Monte’s condition may be lifelong, but it’s easily manageable. The only thing that Monte can’t do without is his special feeding chair, which he must use during all meals (he eats a special diet, too).
This condition requires him to sit upright while eating, but that shouldn’t scare you because he’s already adapted to using his chair! What we’re trying to say is, you won’t have to start from scratch with Monte because he knows how to sit in his chair during meals without making a fuss. And the best part is, he’ll come with his special chair to his adoptive home.
As everyone else at the shelter will tell you, Monte is more than his Megaesophagus diagnosis. Monte is so full of life, so much so that unless the shelter tells you about his condition, you won’t guess that there’s any problem with him.
Since the kennel environment can sometimes feel monotonous and stressful for long-stay dogs like Monte, the shelter always makes sure he gets frequent breaks. Recently, Monte had an absolute blast at a fun outing, where he got to hike, roll on top of piles of hay like the clown he is, and snuggle uninterrupted with his human best friends.
For those few hours, Monte showed the world who he really is: a fun-loving, affectionate soul who does not allow his condition to get in the way of him making the most out of life. An inspiration, if you ask us!
Please Give Monte a Home
Since coming to the shelter, Monte has experienced what it feels like to be loved wholeheartedly, all thanks to the staff members who bonded with him from day one. But what Monte truly desires — and deserves — is the comfort and stability of a real home.
Monte has seen visitors treat him as invisible, yet he continues to stay hopeful. He deserves fun outings that end with returning home with his forever family, not him heading back to his lonely kennel. Please be the person who finally sees Monte beyond his condition and gives him the happy ending he yearns for. He’s a beautiful, loving soul whose big heart aches to be someone’s pet. To adopt Monte, learn more here.
Megaesophagus In Dogs: What You Need to Know
According to the Veterinary Partner, Megaesophagus occurs when a dog’s esophagus dilates (enlarges), losing its ability to transport food smoothly. In normal cases, food from your dog’s mouth flows to the stomach through the esophagus. The proper movement of food through the esophagus is enabled by coordinated muscle contractions (that are controlled by neurological reflexes).
If these reflexes and contractions are impaired, Megaesophagus sets in.
For dogs with Megaesophagus, food tends to “hang around” in the esophagus since there are no coordinated muscle contractions to force the food downward into the stomach. Unfortunately, this increases the chances of the food regurgitating back up.
Megaesophagus can either be congenital or acquired. In other words, some dogs are born with it due to genetic predisposition, or develop it later in life as a result of other underlying health conditions such as hypothyroidism, esophageal cancer, Myasthenia gravis (MG), and Addison’s disease.
Megaesophagus, if not managed properly, may lead to aspiration pneumonia since a dog can inhale regurgitated food into the lungs. This is why upright feeding is an important aspect of managing Megaesophagus, as it helps improve the flow of food through your dog’s impaired esophagus.
