On a stormy San Antonio night, Animal Care Officer Perry responded to a report about a Pit Bull barking at a front door.
The caller believed the dog was acting aggressively, so Perry headed into the cold darkness to check the situation.
Wind pushed against her as she moved through the neighborhood, preparing herself to encounter a large, threatening dog. Instead, she found a tiny pup curled on an old car seat left out with the trash.
Cold, trembling, and alone, the little dog was trying to survive the night. The sight stopped Perry in her tracks, and she knew the pup needed help immediately.
Safe At Last
From the moment Perry approached the dog, soon named Martha, she could tell the small pup had been fending for herself for quite some time. Her ribs were visible through her thin frame.
When Perry inched closer, Martha turned her head away, uncertain whether she could trust anyone. She needed rescue, yet fear kept her from reaching out.
Perry spoke gently, offering reassurance with her voice. Something in those words seemed to settle Martha’s nerves, and she allowed Perry to lift her gently, wrap her in a blanket, and place her in the car.
Once inside, Martha’s demeanor transformed. Her tail began to wag, as if she understood she had finally been saved.
“It was amazing how quickly she came around. It was like she knew I was there to help her,” Perry told The Dodo.
At City of San Antonio Animal Care Services, Martha enjoyed a warm and filling meal.
A veterinary exam revealed she was underweight, heartworm positive, and had previously had puppies.
A New Beginning
Perry placed Martha in a soft kennel with comfortable bedding and toys. The little pup immediately chose a teddy bear to keep close.
Hoping to give Martha the best chance at healing, the shelter posted her story on Facebook, wishing someone would step forward to foster her.
The Mains family soon reached out. Their hearts went out to Martha, and they offered to bring her into their home to help her recover.
When they arrived at the shelter, Martha greeted them with enthusiastic kisses. She seemed ready to embrace this new chapter.
At her foster home, Martha was introduced to three resident dogs who patiently showed her how to enjoy life as part of a family. With every passing day, Martha’s confidence grew. She shadowed her foster parents through the house and curled up beside them each night.
“Her fosters say she has settled in and sleeps on their bed at night. They are also getting used to having no privacy because Martha follows them everywhere! Her foster mom says, ‘She doesn’t know to “dog” yet, but she’s learning,'” Lisa Norwood, public relations manager for City of San Antonio Animal Care Services, told The Dodo.
Martha continues treatment for heartworms and has begun gaining healthy weight. She still adores her toys, especially the teddy bear that Perry chose for her the night she was rescued.
Very soon, Martha will be ready to search for a forever family who will love and protect her for the rest of her life.