TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — One man told MyWabashValley.com his life was changed through an adoption from the Terre Haute Humane Society.

Paul Kennedy adopted Butterball a year ago. As happy-go-lucky as Butterball is today, this loving relationship with his new owner is only possible after a rocky start.

Butterball came to THHS from an abusive situation.

Kennedy said he took one look at him and wanted to bring him home.

“I said, ‘let’s take a chance,'” Kennedy recalled.

Kennedy and the shelter worked together to make sure it was a good match.

“The whole process with him, they were really patient and it was super easy,” Kennedy described. “They made it very easy for me and Butterball. They wanted to make sure he was going to the right home; they wanted to make sure he was compatible with my dog.”

Kennedy said Butterball’s nickname from the humane society had to stay.

“He came in around Thanksgiving and he was just a little porker, so they called him Butterball and it matches, he’s a little turkey,” Kennedy said, noting that Butterball has started a new diet at this new home.

Butterball enjoys being around Kennedy’s two young son and other pets, and Kennedy said you would never guess Butterball’s backstory, but he has had previously abused animals before.

“It’s just the normal of dealing with an abused dog, you just got to be careful with what you do, how quick you move around them,” Kennedy explained. “I just maintain my kids behavior with him and just be as calm as possible with him.”

Now, Butterball gets a second chance at a better life.

“It is a life-changing experience when you change an animal’s life,” Kennedy said.