It's often said that all dogs go to Heaven, but one puppy who decided that he wasn't quite ready is Rudolph.
In January, the then seven-month-old puppy was euthanized after finding himself at an overcrowded animal shelter in Oklahoma.
Fifty-six-percent of all dogs that enter shelters are put to sleep in the US - many of which are perfectly healthy.
However, after performing what is typically a deadly procedure, the vet who euthanized Rudolph returned to the room to discover that the puppy was still very much alive.
And instead of attempting the procedure again, the vet did this:In an interview with WQAD, King's Harvest employee Kylie Jo Mitchell said: "He's a miracle dog, absolutely. I've never heard of anything like this ever, this is a first."
Rudolph was then transported to King's Harvest Pet Rescue No Kill Shelter in a bid to find him a forever home.
Recounting his miraculous survival story, King's Harvest wrote on Facebook: "He was at [a] shelter that was full so the vet euthanized him. But God had a different plan because he woke up. And thank goodness the vet said he wouldn't do it again. So we brought him to our shelter in hopes somebody would come adopt him and give him a second chance at life."
Since news of Rudolph's incredible story of survival became public knowledge, King's Harvest has been inundated by inquiries from potential adoptees.
The shelter is now hoping that this will help some of their other dogs find forever homes too.
One person who went to more effort than most in a bid to give Rudolph his forever home is Jacob Hommer. The Des Moines resident drove two and a half hours just to meet the pup, who he believes would make a perfect companion for a combat veteran he knows.
"My family and I, we have bred Siberian Huskies for combat veterans, Purple Heart recipients, combat wounded veterans," he said, The Pooch Times reports.
Apparently, when the veteran in question heard about Rudolph's story, he was so moved that he said, "I have to have this dog."
However, with so many potential owners vying to adopt the dog, the shelter had their work cut out deciding who would eventually have the pup - but they didn't let Rudolph wait long. He was soon adopted by mother and son Joyce and Mitchell Valentine.
"It's amazing and it's almost a miracle in itself," Mitchell told WHBF of he and his mom's new family member. "We know that there were a lot of people who really wanted him, we do… We just fell in love with him."
"There's something about this dog that’s meant to be here," Joyce added. "There’s a plan for him, I don't know what it is, but I'm glad I get to be a part of it."