To think about Phelps’ ordeal makes me heartbroken.
This brave pup was found in a sewer drain in Kansas and nobody knows how he ended up there.
What we do know is that he had been forced to stay in the toxic water for a prolonged period of time. Even when the floods hit the area, Phelps never thought about giving up. He swam in the water, fighting fiercely to survive.
The hope of being rescued gave him strength to keep going.
Phelps’ Miracle
One day, Phelps’ miracle arrived.
The utility workers who were working in the area were shocked to find him trapped in the sewer and they pulled him to safety.
Phelps was taken to a local pound.
Fortunately, one of the utility workers reached out to a rescue group who then contacted a foster-based rescue, Pawsitive Tails Dog Rescue in Olatha, Kansas.
The rescuers rushed to the pound and pulled him out. Once they saw him for the first time, the team felt brokenhearted. The pup was severely emaciated and looked so lost and confused.
They had so many questions swirling in their minds, but there was no answer to any of them.
Pawsitive Tails Dog Rescue called their vet partner, who agreed to see Phelps right away.
The pup was anemic, and his paw pads were injured from standing too long in the toxic water.
On top of that, his tail was broken, and Phelps was fighting off a bacterial infection.
The vet prescribed him treatment and gave him antibiotics. The doggo was also put on a special feeding plan, which would help his body heal.
Due to his infected paws, Phelps had to wear bandages.
Sadly, the dog developed gangrene, and his tail had to be amputated. After the successful surgery, he was relieved.
“After he got his tail amputated, you could see the relief in his face. He instantly felt so much better,” Crystal told The Dodo.
The Unconditional Love All Dogs Yearn For
Crystal, the Head of the rescue, fostered the pup. She and her family treated him affectionately and tried to make him feel comfortable and safe.
Phelps started exploring his foster home and gradually got used to his foster family and their dogs.
His fosters bought him toys, and the pup was delighted with them.
“I truly think he never had toys before but he truly loves them,” Crystal added.
Crystal regularly took Phelps to the vet for medical checkups and to get his bandages changed.
As time passed, the pup began getting better.
He bonded with his foster family’s Husky named Kato and the two became true brothers. Phelps followed him everywhere and Kato was his greatest support throughout his healing process.
Since Phelps felt safe and comfortable, his adorable personality began emerging and he started showering his foster family with kisses.
Crystal and her family fell in love with him and couldn’t bear to separate from him. They gave him a forever home and Phelps felt infinitely happy.
The dog made a full recovery and he fell in love with his new life. He loves his foster family as much as they love him and he has always felt like he truly belonged by their side.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you to everyone who participated in Phelps’ rescue and who made his fairytale possible.