From a Chair on the Roadside to a Place in a Heart: The Remarkable Journey of La-Z-Boy the Puppy

In the sweltering heat of a Mississippi June in 2019, a heartbreaking scene played out on Gatson Road in Lincoln County. A four-month-old puppy, frail and starving, was found clinging to a recliner chair—abandoned, yet full of hope. Though weak and clearly unfed for days, his eyes still searched the horizon, waiting for someone he believed would come back.

But no one did.

Too young to understand that he’d been left behind, the puppy refused to leave the chair, loyal to a fault. It wasn’t just a piece of furniture—it was the last place where he’d felt connected to someone, and he stayed, as if waiting would somehow bring them back.

That was where local rescuer Sharon Norton found him—sitting still, as though the world had forgotten him. Gently, she offered him food and kind words, which the little pup gratefully accepted. For a moment, it seemed like the kindness he’d been silently begging for had finally arrived.

Norton gave him a fitting name: La-Z-Boy Gatson, in honor of the recliner he guarded and the road that bore witness to his resilience.

Soon after, La-Z-Boy was taken into the care of a nearby shelter. Despite his past, he proved to be a joyful, affectionate puppy—eager to play, nap, and make new friends. His favorite pastime? Splashing in water with his doggy playmates, as if washing away the painful memories of his past life.

La-Z-Boy’s story quickly gained traction on social media, where thousands followed his recovery and transformation. But it was one particular couple—Dave Trammell and Sommer Guy from Michigan—who felt the deepest pull. Touched by his resilience and spirit, they made a life-changing decision: they would drive over 15 hours to Mississippi to adopt him.

In July 2019, La-Z-Boy Gatson joyfully announced via his Instagram page that he had found his forever home. No more waiting. No more hunger. No more loneliness.

His story, like so many others, is a reminder of how easily animals can be discarded—and how powerfully they can love and forgive anyway. La-Z-Boy didn’t just find a home; he found a family who saw his worth, his heart, and his unwavering hope.

Today, the once-abandoned pup who wouldn’t leave his chair now sprawls across couches, runs through sprinklers, and sleeps in warm arms—not just surviving, but thriving.

All it took was one person to stop, to care, and to believe that he deserved better.