5 min read This Dog Was Given Little Time To Live — But Each Happy Moment Is Caught In Time-Lapse

<p> Dave Meinert </p>

Pegasus was a puppy given a poor chance at life. Almost all of the other Great Dane puppies from the litter, bred by a backyard breeder, died. With a slew of complications that would cause problems for Pegasus, no one knew how long she would live. It was already predicted that she would go deaf and blind.

Dave Meinert

But to Dave Meinert, who rescued Pegasus when she was just 4 weeks old, that didn't matter. "For me, she had already been born. Nothing was going to change that," Meinert told The Dodo. "By rescuing her, at least I could be certain she'd be looked after and not discarded or left to die like many of these dogs when the problems start." The dog had time at that moment - and he decided to capture each moment she had on camera.

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For 5 months, Meinert filmed Pegasus walking on a treadmill so that she could learn to get exercise despite her disabilities. Meinert got help from a friend who is an animal behaviorist, Kieron Piper. She was incredible with Pegasus, he says. "Teaching her to do this would not have been possible without her." As a filmmaker and commercials director, Meinert is used to challenges. "But this was by far the hardest thing I have ever done," he says. The result is a brilliant and priceless time-lapse video that captures the will of the gorgeous and loving dog.

"Everyone warned me not to get her," Meinert says, "and that it would be supporting backyard breeding." Pegasus was the product of ignorance. The people who bred her owned her Great Dane parents and should have never let them breed.Dave Meinert"Even though I spent a lot of time educating myself on the problems," Meinert says, "I didn't want to dwell on them. I want to find a way to record and celebrate the healthy, happy times, long may they last." Dave MeinertPegasus is still alive and happily enjoying life. She's even made a friend - another Great Dane who, Meinert says, "she sleeps wrapped around."

"Everyone warned me not to get her," Meinert says, "and that it would be supporting backyard breeding." Pegasus was the product of ignorance. The people who bred her owned her Great Dane parents and should have never let them breed.

Dave Meinert

"Even though I spent a lot of time educating myself on the problems," Meinert says, "I didn't want to dwell on them. I want to find a way to record and celebrate the healthy, happy times, long may they last."

Dave Meinert