James Wathen, a 73-year-old man who had stopped eating and was so frail he could barely speak has “done a complete turnaround” after being reunited with his dog in the US.
Wathen’s fragile physique and feeble mind made it difficult to enhance his health. James Wathen had to whisper to a nurse that he missed his pet, a one-eyed Chihuahua called Bubba. The nurses went out of their way to reunite Wathen with his canine companion after he mentioned that he was missing his one-eyed Chihuahua named Bubba.
Before receiving a visit from his cherished dog Bubba, 73-year-old James Wathen was terminally sick and not doing well.
Deanna Myers, Director of the Knox Whitley Animal Shelter, said, “When Bubba was given to James, he started to grieve, and then Bubba began to hug James, and it makes you realize that animals are not just pets, but loved ones.”
After Wathen was hospitalized, nurses followed Bubba’s trail to the Knox-Whitley animal shelter and learned that the dog had been put in a foster home. Similar indications of mental distress have been seen in Bubba ever since he was separated from his owner. On Saturday, October 11th, Wathen and Bubba reunited thanks to the nurses. Wathen rubbed and played with his puppy, growing more excited and sentimental.
On Saturday, October 11th, Wathen and Bubba were reunited due to the nurses.
“When Bubba was given to James, he started to grieve, and then Bubba began to hug James, and it makes you realize that animals are not just pets, but loved ones.”
Bubba has now visited his owner several times in the hospital and staff said they have both made a “tremendous improvement”.
“[Mr Wathen] has done a complete turnaround. He’s speaking, he’s sitting up, he’s eating. He doesn’t look like the same guy, and the dog is eating and doing better now, too.”
