It’s devastating to even think about how sad and rejected, abandoned dogs feel. Many of those dogs have been heartlessly mistreated and abused and then kicked onto the streets.
These pups feel exhausted and heartbroken. They struggle as they try to survive each day on their own, hoping that someone will finally see them.
Tinkerbell knows this firsthand. The white bulldog had endured quite an ordeal. She was most likely used for breeding and then discarded on the streets. She was in rough shape, exhausted and neglected.
Luckily, she had the willpower to keep going and searching for help.
One day, Tinkerbell found herself in danger, and she needed urgent human help.
Terrified Pup On The Highway
When two kind women noticed a small bulldog racing across a crowded highway in Exton, Pennsylvania, their hearts sank.
The pup was terrified and ran into nearby woods.
The women pulled over right away, determined to help her. They followed her and saw her slipping along the muddy bank of a creek.
When Tinkerbell saw them, her legs started trembling. She looked them in the eyes, trying to figure out whether she could trust them.
One woman placed a comforter on the ground. She hoped that the soft surface would help the pup calm down. The other called 911.
When first responders arrived, Tinkerbell was running out of strength.
Firefighters and police officers offered her a Dunkin’ breakfast sandwich to coax her from the water.
Little by little, Tinkerbell approached them until they were finally able to secure her.
Her rescuers rushed her to Lucky Dawg Animal Rescue. Mary Bauer, the president and founder, met her the moment she arrived.
“[Tinkerbell] was scared, shut down and completely overwhelmed,” Bauer told The Dodo. “We knew she needed time, space and patience to decompress. She was emotionally drained.”
The rescue team brought her to the vet, who examined her. She was in rough shape.
“Her feet are raw and sore, her nails so overgrown she could barely walk, and her skin is rough and inflamed. Her ears were cropped, and it’s clear she’s had several liters of puppies before. She weighs only about 30 pounds, but she’s finally warm, fed, and loved,” Lucky Dawg Animal Rescue wrote on Facebook.
Tinkerbell began receiving treatment and was placed on the medications she needed to start healing.
A Second Chance Begins
At first, Tinkerbell was scared and cautious. She kept her tail tucked.
The staff talked to her in a gentle voice. The pup watched them and noticed how kind and gentle they were towards her.
As time went by, Tinkerbell gradually started relaxing and trusting her caregivers.
Hope glimmered in her eyes, and she lifted her tail. She no longer trembled when someone approached her.
“It was like a switch flipped. Suddenly she knew she was safe,” Bauer added.
Tinkerbell still has healing to do, but she is no longer alone.
She is learning what it feels like to be cared for and is slowly becoming a confident dog who looks forward to each new day. Once she is fully ready, her shelter friends will help her find the home she has always needed.
Until that happens, she will stay with her caregivers who are determined to help her heal.
The pup is relieved because she finally has a warm bed and people who give her love and attention that she lacked all along.
“Tinkerbell is alive today because strangers cared enough to stop.Your actions, calling for help, staying with a scared animal, reporting what you see, can be the difference between tragedy and a second chance. The police, fire department and bystanders are Tinkerbell’s heroes,” Bauer shared.
We can’t wait for Tinkerbell to heal completely and to find the forever home where she will be cherished and loved.