From the moment our dogs enter our home, they become our family members. We give them love, care, and safety – everything that they need in order to thrive.

It’s deeply saddening that there are so many owners who abandon their dogs and betray their trust.

La-Z-Boy Gatson is one of the abandoned dogs who kept waiting for his owners without realizing that they would never come.

In June 2019, a 4-month-old puppy was found abandoned, clinging to a chair along Gatson Road, in Lincoln County, Mississippi.

Animal Control Officer, Sharon Norton, came to the scene. She was moved to see a small puppy sitting in a recliner seat next to a TV that was also dumped.

He was frail, and it was clear that he hadn’t eaten for days. Although he was starving, his eyes were still filled with hope that his owner would come.

Being left in a chair, the pup couldn’t realize that he had been abandoned. He didn’t want to move from his spot.

Norton approached him and gave him food. The pooch was glad that somebody cared for him, offering him treats and telling him reassuring words that he desperately needed to hear.

He felt relaxed. Norton succeeded in earning his trust.

“He was very happy when I picked him up and carried him to the animal control truck. I could feel his tail hitting my back, wagging. He knows he’s safe now,” Norton said.

Norton brought him to the Brookhaven City Shelter. He was given a bath and treatment for ringworm. He was then transferred to Brookhaven Animal Rescue League where he continued his recovery.

Norton named him La-Z-Boy after the recliner and the road where she found him.

The rescue staff says that he is a friendly puppy who loves napping and hanging out with others. He’s very sociable and he has many playmates. One of his favorite things to do is play in the water.

After he was nursed back to health, he went to foster care, hoping that he would be adopted very soon. Luckily, he didn’t wait long.

In July 2019, La-Z-Boy Gatson announced on his Instagram account that he found his forever home and a loving family.

His new parents, Dave Trammell and Sommer Guy, heard his touching story and drove over 15 hours from Michigan to Mississippi to meet and adopt him.

La-Z-Boy quickly adapted to his life in a new home. Within days, he became very relaxed and he started sleeping with his belly up.

“I think he just wanted to have a home. You could tell he was really appreciative when we got here,” Trammell added.

La-Z-Boy lives with his family in Plymouth, Michigan. He still loves napping and enjoys car rides with his dog sister, Penelope. We are so happy that he’s living his best life.

Although he was starving, his eyes were still filled with hope that his owner would come.