Things weren't going well for Doug. He was found, thin and starving, wandering a national park campground. When no one came forward to claim him, his rescuers took him to a local assistance dog training program. From there, Doug was placed in an assisted living center and was later surrendered to the Southern California Labrador Retriever Rescue Society. It appeared that things were finally looking up for Doug. He was adopted by a wonderful family who was willing to accept him, despite what they understood to be mild food allergies. Unfortunately, the allergies lead to a series of ear infections, which Doug's new family treated despite their difficult financial situation. Eventually, it became apparent that Doug needed surgery to eliminate the infections, which could, over time, lead to deafness, neurological problems or a brain abscess. Doug's owners felt that their only options were surgery or euthanasia - and they were not willing to give up on Doug. Labrador Life Line funded a portion of the surgery, allowing the family to keep their beloved boy.