A heartbreaking incident unfolded in Mississippi when a 4-month-old puppy was found abandoned on a remote road, left clinging to a recliner chair beside a discarded TV.
The dog, likely waiting for its owner to return, was rescued just in time by animal control officer Sharon Norton.
A puppy left to starve was found abandoned alongside a chair
Sharon Norton, an animal control officer from Brookhaven, Mississippi, responded to a distressing call about a dog abandoned alongside a recliner and TV on a deserted road.
The poor puppy was found surrounded by dense woods near a nearby interstate.
The scene left her feeling sick to her stomach.
The dog, a possible hound and Doberman pinscher mix.
He was found huddled next to the chair, appearing weak and emaciated after being left without food for an estimated four to five days.
“He was just waiting for his owner,” Norton explained.
Sharon Norton added that the puppy was too frightened to leave the chair in the unfamiliar and dangerous surroundings,
A poor puppy was rescued nearly starves
Initially, the puppy was too scared to move, but after Norton offered him food, he began to trust her.
When she carried him to her truck, she felt his tail wagging against her back, a sign of hope.
“He was so happy because he knew he was safe and going to get food,” she recalled.
A dog was given a new name and a second chance.
Norton, who also works as a veterinary technician, bathed the puppy and got him medical attention.
She named him “La-Z-Boy Gatson” in honor of the recliner where he was found.
He is currently being nursed back to health at Brookhaven City Shelter, where veterinarians are helping him regain weight.
Norton shared his story on Facebook, condemning the person who abandoned him: “Your puppy was waiting for you to come back, slowly starving to death because it was afraid to leave the chair. Shame on you for doing this to him.”
Several local families have already expressed interest in adopting La-Z-Boy Gatson once he’s healthy enough for a new home.
Norton pleaded for awareness, addressing the issue of animal abandonment.
Norton hoped someone will recognize the chair or the dog and report the former owner to local authorities.
However, she noted that the perpetrator would likely face only a small fine for illegal dumping, as Mississippi laws classify dogs as property.
This incident, unfortunately, is not isolated.
In her seven years on the job, Norton has witnessed countless cases of animal cruelty and abandonment, a reality that has worn her down.
She hopes La-Z-Boy Gatson’s story will raise awareness about the importance of responsible pet ownership.
Additionally, she also encouraged people to surrender pets they can no longer care for to shelters instead of abandoning them.
Then, the furniture company La-Z-Boy, moved by the puppy’s story, made a financial donation to the Brookhaven Animal Rescue League.
The company also announced plans to donate 50 pet beds to help La-Z-Boy Gatson and other shelter animals feel more comfortable.
Additionally, La-Z-Boy is in discussions with the shelter to name a new outdoor pet bed model “The Gatson” in honor of the rescued puppy.
