‘Joyful’ dog wagged his tail so hard, it had to be amputated. He needs a home
A “joyful” dog wagged his tail so hard, it had to be amputated.
Now, Marley has healed and is up for adoption at a North Carolina animal shelter.
“Marley is MUCH happier with his little nub tail,” Malinda Massey, marketing manager for the Forsyth Humane Society, told McClatchy News via email. “When his tail was longer, he developed happy tail, a common but painful issue in dogs who wag their tails enthusiastically (and a little too much). His tail was so long and thin that his repeated tail wagging in his kennel and on other surfaces caused an open wound that would not heal on its own.”
Marley had surgeries before his caregivers decided to amputate part of his tail. Now, he’s “just as loving and happy as ever,” the Winston-Salem shelter wrote June 25 in a Facebook post.
“Post-tail amputation, Marley is free to wiggle to his heart’s content, and he’s pain-free...,” Massey wrote. “Part of Marley’s length in stay is certainly due to his tail amputation and the recovery from that procedure!”
At the shelter, Marley has become one of the longest-term residents. He was surrendered in March when one of his previous family members had allergies.
Marley is believed to be a 2-year-old mixed-breed pup. He’s known for his sweet nature and enjoys going on long walks before unwinding on the couch.
“I love people, and I get along with most dogs,” the shelter said in an adoption profile written from Marley’s perspective. “I’m big ball of friendly love and great energy, so if you’ve got space for me to roam and a spot for me to relax, I’m the perfect fit for you.”
As of June 26, Marley still waited for a new owner. Details about the shelter’s adoption process can be found at forsythhumane.org.
“He is a wonderful and loving dog who just hasn’t had his chance to shine yet,” Massey wrote.
This story was originally published June 26, 2025 at 1:58 PM with the headline "‘Joyful’ dog wagged his tail so hard, it had to be amputated. He needs a home."
