Napoleon, a 3-year-old Pit Bull mix, had spent much of his life wandering the streets of Cleveland, Texas. He could often be spotted near a gas station parking lot, surviving on scraps and searching for kindness, with no real place to call home.
When word of his situation reached a local rescue, they knew they had to act fast.
Rescue Arrives In Time
Once they found Napoleon, rescuers rushed him to the vet for a full examination. There, they learned he was suffering from a diaphragmatic hernia — a condition where internal organs push into the chest cavity.
Without surgery, he wouldn’t survive. The team quickly turned to Facebook to ask for donations to cover the costly procedure.
The most likely cause of his injury? Blunt force trauma — a thought that made his years alone on the streets seem even more heartbreaking.
“It was one of the worst cases of a diaphragmatic hernia they had seen,” said Laura Forma, cofounder of This Is Houston.
Despite the severity, Napoleon faced the operation bravely — and came through like a true fighter.
A Long Road To Healing
Napoleon’s recovery began in the comfort of a foster home. His resilience impressed everyone, and the rescue soon announced that he was ready to find his forever family.
He did meet a family who fell in love with him, but Napoleon was pretty attached to his foster mom, and it showed during their meet and greet. So, they decided not to move forward.
Months passed. Nearly a year went by, with Napoleon still waiting. Sadly, this wasn’t unusual — according to 11pets, only 27% of adopted dogs are large breeds, and they often spend up to 12 months in shelters or foster care before finding homes.
Then, the right person finally came along.
A Home At Last
“I remember seeing his story and thinking, ‘If he is still around in a few months, when we get a house with a yard, we have to get him,’” said adopter Tina Kempken.
When the time was right, she brought him home.
“Since bringing him home, we have learned he loves romping in the yard and snuggling. He forgets he is almost 90 pounds.”
It took a little while for Napoleon to adjust to his new life, but once it sank in that he had both a roof over his head and a loving family, he truly blossomed.
He now showers affection on his stuffed toys, adores his new parents, and has become best buddies with Tina’s other dog, Snoopy.
From Streets To Snuggles
Napoleon’s transformation from a homeless, injured stray to a beloved family member is nothing short of inspiring.
Thanks to the dedication of rescuers, fosters, and adopters, dogs like Napoleon get the second chances they deserve. To everyone who’s ever been part of a rescue mission — this story is proof that your compassion changes lives.