Stories of rescuers saving stray puppies are always touching, but they don’t often show how difficult those moments can be. Not every dog wandering the streets will get the chance to be saved.
This time, though, fate intervened. A police officer came across a small box left near the road. Curious, he stopped to check inside, and what he found would change everything.
Scorching Heat And A Small Box
It was a sweltering day in Georgia when Deputy Earl Hanners noticed something unusual sitting by the roadside.
When he walked over, he saw a cardboard box. Peering inside, he was stunned to find a puppy trapped within.
The day was unbearably hot, and he couldn’t believe someone had abandoned her like that.
Hanners told The Dodo: “She was in a cardboard box and it was closed in. A passerby saw the box and stopped, and saw there was a puppy in it. So he opened up the box and laid it on the side and got some water for it, then called 911.”
Hanners, however, was already en route to respond to a car accident. Unable to stay, he left others to help the puppy in the meantime.
But he couldn’t shake the thought of her. At his first chance, he returned.
He said: “I told the guy … to cancel animal control. I’m going to take the puppy and get her to a vet and check her out.”
Bridget Finds Her Forever Home
True to his word, Hanners came back for the little dog, soon named Bridget, and gently carried her to his patrol car. Her new life was about to begin.
He offered her food and water, and in his care, she quickly began to relax.
Now that she was safe, Hanners couldn’t imagine letting her go. He made the decision to adopt her himself.
She would be joining a lively household, as Hanners was already fostering and rescuing dogs through the group Hounds in Pounds.
Before she met the rest of the pack, he brought her to a Georgia veterinarian for a checkup and vaccinations.
Once cleared, Bridget was welcomed into her new home. She fit right in, bonding effortlessly with the other dogs.
Hanners said: “We just introduced her to the other dogs in the house last night. It just takes a day or two of watching, and they blend right into the pack.”
Thanks to Hanners, Bridget’s story took a beautiful turn. Not only does he serve his community, but he also gives countless animals a chance at love and safety. His compassion is something to be admired.