Dog surrendered by owner in her 90s was confused. Then came a family with a houseboat

A senior dog was confused after his longtime owner couldn’t keep him — then came heartwarming news.

Chutney, who has faced some health problems, got a new home with a veterinarian.

“His foster parents fell in love with him and Chutney is living it up now on a house boat 9 months out of the year,” a South Carolina animal rescue wrote July 6 on Facebook. “During the other 3 months he’s camping. Not too shabby for a rescue dog!”

Black Tie Boston Rescue in Little River — near Myrtle Beach — shared the emotional update after Chutney experienced a rough patch. He was surrendered when his previous owner was in her 90s and had to go to a nursing home.

“He was different from a lot of rescue dogs we see as he was very loved by his human,” Megan Davis, director and foster coordinator for the rescue, told McClatchy News in an email. “He had been with his mom since he was a puppy and now, at almost 10 years old, he was without his person.”

Chutney came to the rescue in October. Though the Boston terrier had more than 900 pages of medical records, the organization said it felt compelled to help him.

“Our fella was such a confused, sweet hippo of a dog but, he was not in good health,” Davis wrote. “Our rescue knew taking in a 40-pound Boston with significant health issues (enlarged heart, skin allergies, breathing trouble) and with a backstory of some poor house habits would be a long-term commitment.”

The rescue found a foster parent who drove across South Carolina to get Chutney. His health started improving, but the temporary home didn’t work out.

“We thought this was the end of Chutney’s story.....it was happy, he was safe, it was GOOD!!!” Davis wrote. “BUT, unfortunately his wonderful foster mom developed her own health issues and could not commit to long term care for our fella.”

Then, after several social media pleas, the “perfect family” stumbled upon his story.

“They were drawn to him because he was special,” Davis wrote. “They wanted him because he needed more than the average person would or could provide for him and they loved him for all the reasons that others would run away.”

The family — a veterinarian and her spouse — has officially adopted Chutney. Now, the pup will spend most of his time living on a pet-proof houseboat with his new canine and feline siblings.

“A HUGE bonus is that Chutney’s mom has been able to determine he does not have heart disease, his medications can be discontinued AND with breathing treatments and doctor credentials onboard he is now and forever more....living his VERY best life,” Davis wrote.

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