A Labrador Retriever born with an unusual face spent years being passed from owner to owner, unwanted and neglected, simply because he didn’t look the way people expected a purebred Lab to look. His story could have ended quietly in a backyard — instead, it became one of the more heartwarming rescue stories to come out of Austin, Texas.
Marked As “Unsellable” From Birth
The dog, originally named Lucky, was born at a breeding operation with a sunken cranium and unusually close-set eyes — physical traits that developed simply because he’d been crowded in the womb alongside several littermates. While the condition had no effect on his health or mental capabilities, breeders trying to sell him as a purebred Labrador struggled to find a buyer willing to pay full price for a dog who didn’t fit the expected look. Eventually, he was given away for free.
What followed was years of instability. Lucky was passed from home to home, never fully wanted, until he ended up with a family near Austin. Because the household’s cats didn’t get along with him, Lucky was kept outside full-time — sometimes tied to a tree for days at a stretch, without a proper bed, adequate food, or shelter from Texas heat that can reach well over 100 degrees.
Left Behind Again
When the family eventually decided to move, they made the decision to leave Lucky behind entirely, contacting a local shelter to find him a new home while he continued living on the property in the meantime. Volunteers did find a family willing to foster him — but it didn’t last. Not long after taking him in, the new family changed their minds and returned him.
Lucky’s fortunes shifted when a shelter volunteer took him out for grooming and shared photos of him on social media. Those photos eventually reached Jamie Hulit, an experienced Austin-based dog rescuer connected to several local rescue organizations.
“It just happened to be somebody in my dog rescue world, so right away I contacted him and said, ‘I want that dog. I don’t even want to foster it, I wanna take that dog,'” Hulit said.
A Fight For His Life
What Hulit found when she went to pick him up was worse than she expected. After years of neglect, the roughly 6-year-old dog weighed just 42 pounds, was covered in fleas, and had never been microchipped. Most seriously, a veterinary exam revealed he had heartworm disease — a potentially fatal condition that damages the heart and lungs — severe enough that his veterinarian gave him roughly a 50/50 chance of survival.
Hulit didn’t hesitate. She brought him home and committed to whatever treatment he needed, regardless of cost.
“It was touch-and-go and we almost lost him once,” she said. “I said to my vet, ‘I don’t care — for this particular dog just do whatever you need to and I will pay whatever it is. Don’t hold back.'”
The dog spent time in an oxygen tank during his recovery, and Hulit ultimately spent around $8,000 on his veterinary care. It worked. He pulled through, made a full recovery, and was eventually cleared of the heartworm disease entirely.
A New Name, And A New Life
Hulit gave her new dog a fresh start, renaming him Beaux Tox — a playful nod to his distinctive face. “The reason I named him Beaux Tox is because clearly he looks like he needs Botox, and that’s okay,” she said. “We appreciate beauty in all forms.”
Rather than shy away from the comments his unusual appearance sometimes drew, Hulit leaned into it, even making small neckties for him. “I started making ties for him,” she said, “just so that it would offset his face and just maybe the tie would draw it in where he’s cuter, where he’s not as scary.”
A Gentle Presence For Other Animals
Today, Beaux Tox is described as a carefree, affectionate dog who’s taken on something of a caretaker role in Hulit’s household, helping raise kittens she’s fostered and getting along easily with a wide range of animals.
“He’s fostered kittens,” Hulit said. “Beaux Tox is good with anything. He’s good with kittens, baby skunks, cats. He’ll watch the tarantula for an hour. He’s very intrigued by everything… for him, everything is exciting.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused Beaux Tox’s unusual facial appearance? His sunken cranium and close-set eyes developed because he was crowded in the womb alongside several littermates. The condition is purely physical and has no effect on his health or cognitive abilities.
What was actually wrong with him when he was rescued? Beyond severe neglect and malnutrition, a veterinary exam found he had heartworm disease, a serious and potentially fatal condition, giving him roughly a 50/50 chance of survival at the time.
How much did his medical treatment cost? His rescuer, Jamie Hulit, spent approximately $8,000 on his veterinary care, including treatment for heartworm disease and time spent in an oxygen tank during his recovery.
Why was he originally given away for free? Breeders struggled to sell him as a purebred Labrador Retriever due to his unusual facial appearance, so rather than keep him, he was given away at no cost — beginning a cycle of being passed between owners who ultimately didn’t want to keep him.
How is Beaux Tox doing today? He made a full recovery from heartworm disease and is reported to be healthy, affectionate, and notably gentle with other animals, including kittens his owner has fostered.
Sources: iHeartDogs, TODAY, and Fox News, cited above.
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