By Debbie Emery - Breaking Celebrity News Reporter

A picture can say a thousand words, but one heart-warming photo actually saved a dying dog's life just days before he was at risk of being put to sleep.

At 19 years old, Schoep was suffering from debilitating arthritis that his loving owner, John Unger, couldn't afford to treat and realizing that time was not on their side a friend captured the moving image of the duo as the Wisconsin native tried to ease his dog's pain by floating with him in Lake Superior.

The outpouring of support from the photo that went viral in August has been phenomenal and now thanks to expensive laser treatments paid for through donations, the shepherd mix is feeling like a healthy young pup again, Breaking Celebrity News has learned.

"Schoep is doing great! Since receiving treatment he is more active, alert, flexible, happy. He walks better, sleeps through the night now and wags his tail with more vigor. On our last walk he was even trotting!" said excited Unger in a statement to Breaking Celebrity News.

"I feel such overwhelming grati