Our furry friends often rely on instinct to survive painful experiences. When they have been abused or hurt, rebuilding their trust takes patience and time.
Animal rescuers know this reality all too well. Their mission to save lives is often filled with both rewarding moments and heartbreaking challenges.
One such case was Billy, a dog who stunned his rescuers after he was discovered hiding deep inside a crawlspace beneath a house in Mississippi. Tragically, Billy had been shot multiple times, and his fear of people made his rescue extremely difficult.
The Disturbing Discovery
When rescuer Say Smith received a call about a small dog suspected of being shot, she rushed to help.
Billy was suffering from injuries to his legs and instinctively dragged himself under a nearby home for shelter.
“I don’t know for sure if he actually has 3 bullet holes in him but I do know for sure 2 of his legs are hurt. I’m about to head back out with a trap to try to get him out from under the house,” Say wrote in a Facebook post.
Say soon located Billy, but he had burrowed so far into the crawlspace that reaching him was nearly impossible.
The team stayed late into the night, leaving food and speaking softly to try and gain his trust. Although Billy accepted the food, he refused to come out.
Say wasn’t ready to give up. She returned the next morning with her team and spent hours patiently working to guide Billy into the trap. Finally, at about 5 PM, they succeeded.
“I’m about to cry tears of joy! He put me through 10 hours of hell but he’s safe now! We’re headed straight to the vet,” Say updated on Facebook.
Knowing he had gone without water or food for two days, the rescuers immediately rushed him to the clinic.
There, vets confirmed his injuries were worse than expected. Along with gunshot wounds, Billy had a broken leg and anemia. His road to recovery would require ongoing medical care. Say knew he needed a safe foster environment.
A New Start In Foster Care
With Say’s help, Billy was transferred to PAWS New England for continued treatment. He was placed in the home of medical foster Denise Belt, who welcomed him with patience and kindness.
At first, Billy kept his distance. He hid away, unwilling to interact or engage. While his physical health slowly improved, the emotional scars were much harder to heal.
Denise gave him space but offered gentle reassurance and food, allowing him to decide when he was ready to open up.
First Signs Of Trust
After days of silence and hiding, Billy finally made a small but important step.
“I’m getting a few tail wags now and this morning, he actually ventured into the kitchen a few steps to see what I was doing,” Denise told PAWS England, according to their post.
It was a breakthrough moment that showed Billy was beginning to feel safe.
With time, Billy’s confidence will continue to grow. Each wag of his tail and each step out of hiding is proof of his courage.
When he is fully healed, both physically and emotionally, Billy will begin the search for a forever home. Until then, he is slowly learning how it feels to be safe, loved, and cared for.
Thanks to his rescuers’ determination and the patience of his foster mom, Billy has a real chance at the happy life he always deserved.