Adopt Me! Once Deprived, Big Dave Now Has an Abundance of Love

The 2-year-old is on the mend and will soon be looking for a happy home

For every pet living with a happy family, there is an animal in a shelter waiting to find a forever home. So today, in honor of Adopt-A-Dog Month, we’d like you to meet Big Dave, a loving German shepherd from Madison, Wis., looking for a second shot at life.

“Big Dave spent the first part of his life chained up with little to no care at all,” Madison Mutts Director Melissa Smith tells PEOPLEPets.com. The 2-year-old’s family moved away, leaving the pup to fend for himself while chained to a porch without food, water or shelter. But despite this, “he’s never given up on his love for people,” Smith says. Now severely emaciated and suffering from a skin infection, he’s being treated by veterinarians and is on the road to recovery. “He doesn’t have any food-guarding problems and is a big affectionate love to people, cats and dogs,” says Smith. “He loves to just lean on you and cuddle.” Since he recently arrived at Madison Mutts and is still in treatment, he’s not yet ready for adoption, but you can help his healing by donating to the organization and applying to rescue him once he’s back on his feet.

Madison Mutts is a non-profit, all-breed dog rescue that supports animal shelters throughout the upper Midwest. They take in “death row” dogs, providing them with a safe home environment, training, medical care and support. Their animals live in foster homes while waiting for adoption, helping volunteers to evaluate the dogs’ personalities before sending them to a forever home. Since 2004, Madison Mutts has placed 1,114 dogs – and counting.

To help Big Dave’s recovery and to support other dogs in need, visit the organization’s Web site.

See more adoptable animals on PEOPLE Pets:
Adopt Me! Spotty Dottie Wants to Lick Your Face
Adopt Us! Kinsey, Allister and Grady to Make Purrrrfect Pets!