A rescue dog who suffered the heartbreak of being returned after her new owner became gravely ill found salvation with the most unexpected of people.
Dr. Whitney C. Terrell has provided care to countless dogs during her time as a veterinarian in Alabama, but there was something about Lady Wiggle Bottom the rescue dog that caught her eye—aside from her unique name, of course.
“She was brought in to the practice I was at to board with us a few times in 2016, which was how I got to meet her,” Terrell told Newsweek. “They would always bring this old Folgers coffee can with her because she liked to carry it everywhere.”
Terrell assumed that would be the last time they met, however, a short time later she received a phone call from a nearby animal shelter asking about Lady’s vaccine and medical history.
Lady Wiggle Bottom was adopted from the shelter but her happiness did not last long.
TikTok/dr.terrellpetvet
There are any number of reasons why owners may choose to relinquish a pet. In 2024, a systematic analysis of shelter records published in the journal Animals identified the most common as behavioral issues (28 per cent), housing issues (18 per cent), and the inability to care for the animalsnews (16 per cent).
Sadly, Lady’s relinquishment fell firmly into the latter category. “She had been returned because unfortunately the owner had gotten very sick and couldn’t take care of her.”
The idea of Lady going from being rescued to ending up back at a shelter upset Terrell. “I just remembered the sweet dog with the “wiggle butt” that carried an old Folger’s can and the thought that she had a home, then got brought back broke my heart.” she said. “I didn’t want her to feel like she did something wrong or was unloved because she was the sweetest dog and I just couldn’t let her go without a home.”
Terrell ended up doing the only thing she could think to do in that situation. As the day drew to a close, she left work and headed straight to the shelter to take Lady home.
That’s where Lady remained for the rest of her happy life. Terrell has no regrets about taking Lady home that day, only happy memories from the years since. “She would shred a stuffed toy in about 5 min so she would typically just get one a year to shred and had to stick with Kong-like toys that were good for strong chewers,” Terrell said. “She really loved Woof’s Pupsicle.”
Lady became an important part of her family’s life. “She was my eldest’s daughter’s best dog friend,” Terrell said. “Lady was so good at being patient with her and playing with her.”
That’s what made what happened earlier this year so heartbreaking for everyone involved. While outwardly Lady seemed to be approaching her senior years with vigor, unbeknownst to Terrell and her family, she was struggling with bladder stones.
This led to a multitude of problems that culminated in Lady going into cardiac arrest. She passed away earlier this year.
In a video posted to her TikTok, @dr.terrellpetvet, earlier this month, Terrell paid tribute to the dog she gave everything to. “She was a good girl and she will be missed,” she wrote alongside footage of her old friend, which amassed more than a thousand views.
“I’ve always said that I will show all of veterinary medicine, not just the good parts,” Terrell said. “I also want people to know that us vets are human—we feel emotions deeply, we make mistakes, and we don’t always have it together.”
Opening up about Lady’s death has been “cathartic” to Terrell but it’s also served as reminder of the role she played in giving her rescue pup the best possible life. As one person commenting on the video surmised perfectly, Terrell’s intervention and decision to adopt ensured Lady “knew nothing but love” in her life.
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