14-year-old dog at the end of her journey sprites back to health after family saves an abandoned puppy: 'Our vet was astonished'

Do you know this meme about how dogs perceive humans as all the people of Middle-earth perceive the elves in Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings? Well, now you know it (sort of). The short-lived races of Middle-earth see elves as these immortal beings with higher powers. Think about it - you are your dog's entire world. If you didn't adopt your dog as a kid, it's almost like they don't see you age during their lifespan. Like we have this magical youth in their eyes - as they get old, we stay the same. The constant in their lives.

While dogs' lives are much shorter than ours, we stay with the knowledge we'll have to say goodbye to our floofy BFFs on four. And that's… heartbreaking. Discussing the end of your dog's journey with your veterinarian is one of the most difficult conversations to have. Accepting that our dogs' journeys are shorter than ours is so hard. They seem old, tired, sometimes even sick. They stop running around, stop playing, or even get excited for food. And seeing the life escape your dog is harsh on any dog pawrent's heart.

But after all, you're not alone - and it means there are known ways to bring back more life to an old dog. One of them is letting your old dog adopt a puppy. It works like some doggo magic. Your old dog becomes young again, gaining their puppyhood they seem to have misplaced. And when that happens? You know you won some more precious time with your beloved pupper.