To this day, I find it hard to believe that there are people who would let their four-legged companions struggle. Yet, I know this is the harsh reality for many animals out there who are trying their best to survive through difficult times, often in the cold and without proper shelter to hide.
One such story comes from Missouri, where a kind truck driver witnessed a truly heartbreaking scene.
He was on the job, taking a break in a local park when something devastating caught his attention on top of a trash can.
He Couldn’t Believe His Eyes
As he approached the bench, the driver spotted strange movement in a box left on top of the trash can. Moments later, he realized – it was a teeny-tiny puppy!
Shocked by what he had just witnessed, the man immediately contacted Stray Rescue of St. Louis for help.
“A truck driver stopped in a park to take a break when he saw a little brown puppy in a tub on top of a trash can. He had to get back on the road so he called us and we headed over to get the little guy,” the rescue wrote in their website post.
Even though it was nighttime and the visibility was poor, Donna Lochmann and her fellow rescuers immediately arrived at the spot. Thanks to the recent fundraiser, they purchased a FLIR (thermal imaging) camera they decided to use in this case.
Still, the puppy was nowhere to be seen. He wasn’t in the can anymore, so Donna and the team decided to scan the surrounding area more carefully.
After some time, an orange blob finally appeared on camera! It was the puppy hiding in the nearby bushes. The team couldn’t hide their excitement to have finally found the dog. However, given his lethargic behavior, they knew this rescue was far from over.
“He was lethargic, vomiting, had a high fever, and absolutely no appetite,” the rescue added in the post.
They immediately brought him to a vet clinic where the pup, aptly named Flir after the camera, was diagnosed with a severe case of parvovirus.
His condition required 24/7 care and Donna knew that if she had not found him that night, he would definitely not have made it through the night.
Fortunately, little Flir was a fighter. Even though he still wasn’t out of the woods over the following days, he showed a remarkable fighting spirit and strength.
He spent a week with two different emergency vets and had two blood transfusions later. On top of that, the vet bills for Flir were enormous, but he didn’t give up. And, neither did his community!
In Flir’s case, the saying, “It takes a village to save a dog” could not be truer! Thanks to his giant-hearted rescuers and the vet team, he finally got a second chance. And boy, did he take it!
Flir’s Inspiring Life Journey
After finally being out of danger, Flir spent the next few days in foster care. There, he began to exhibit his true colors, showing everyone how genuinely sweet a dog he was.
However, the best news arrived at the rescue’s address days later! A woman named Stephanie Meyer Schmitz and her family fell in love with Flir’s story right off the bat and decided to give him a forever home.
She couldn’t be more thankful to Flir’s rescuers for believing, and ultimately, for matching the two.
“Thank you to Stray Rescue for saving this baby’s life – to his rescuer Donna (who found him that night) all the vet staff that fought to save him – his foster parents that loved him and gave him a family till we were able to bring him home,” Stephanie wrote on Facebook.
Flir, now Oliver, is now a big dog, enjoying his new life and loving his new family to the fullest.
“My sweet little man- you are home- with a family who loves you, who will protect you and cherish you,” she added.
Stephanie even made sure Flir got a sibling to play with, so the family adopted another dog – a puppy named Poppy.
Flir/Oliver and his new sister are inseparable and they couldn’t imagine life without each other.
After all the storms in his past, this happy-go-lucky pup has completely transformed and never looks back. His only concern now is how to spice up his fabulous days with many exciting adventures his family has in store for him. And, isn’t that every dog’s dream?