When a pit bull mix named Squishapotamus arrived at Austin Pets Alive! (APA!), he didn’t look like the other dogs. His eyes were tired and uncertain, and his body — weighing in at just over 100 pounds — was struggling to carry him.
“He was extremely overweight,” said Jess Prosser, dog care lead at APA!. “You could tell he did not feel well. His back legs were giving out when he tried to walk, and sometimes he got defensive when touched — I think it was just because he was uncomfortable.”
Beneath all that weight was a dog who had been neglected and forgotten — but who still wanted to trust.
The team at APA! knew that Squish’s body wasn’t the only thing that needed healing. His spirit did, too. They put together a gentle, structured plan: a new diet, portioned meals, and tiny five-minute walks to start rebuilding his strength.
“I would also give him coconut oil massages because his skin was in such poor condition,” Prosser said. “He had lots of patches of dry skin.”
Week by week, Squish began to change. The weight slowly melted off, and in its place came something else — a spark.
“What’s been most memorable is watching his transformation,” Prosser said. “You could see changes both physically and behaviorally. He started to get more energy. He went from not being able to walk for five minutes to going off campus and onto the trail. He just looked happier.”
And as his body healed, so did his heart.
When Squish first arrived, he was nervous around men — unsure if they could be trusted. But with every pound lost and every kind hand that reached out, that fear began to fade.
“We haven’t seen any defensiveness since his weight loss,” Prosser said. “He just looks so much happier now.”
You can see more of Squish’s transformation here:
Five months later, Squish had lost 45 pounds — and gained a brand new life.
He now trots proudly beside his caregivers on walks, soaking in the sunshine, tail wagging with confidence. And for the first time, he’s ready for what comes next: a forever home of his own.
“An adult household would be best for him,” Prosser said. “He should probably be the only dog — he enjoys people time more than anything.”
Once a neglected, unhappy pup who could barely stand, Squish now spends his days snuggling, smiling, and soaking up affection from everyone he meets.
“I want people to know that he just has so much love to give,” Prosser said. “He makes me smile every single time I see him.”
Squish’s journey is proof that with patience, compassion, and care, even the heaviest burdens can lift — revealing the joyful soul that was waiting underneath all along.
To support dogs like Squish on their journey to health and happiness, you can donate to Austin Pets Alive! here.
To inquire about adopting Squish, click here.
