When Lisa Reams, who runs Saving Grace Animal Rescue in Mississippi, heard about a puppy left near a dumpster in Yazoo City, she went straight there.
She was hoping she had made it in time.
At first, there was nothing. She searched around the dumpster and checked the surrounding area carefully, but the puppy was nowhere to be seen.
Most people might have assumed they were too late and moved on. Lisa did not. She came back about an hour later, and this time she found him.
There he was beside the dumpster, curled up and shaking, a tiny puppy all alone with no food, no water, and no sign that anyone had cared enough to come back.
He looked weak, hungry, and utterly lost.
A Tiny Life Saved
Reams spoke softly to the scared puppy, who would later be named Oscar. Startled by the sound of her voice, he tried to crawl under the dumpster to hide.
The rescuer gently reached out and lifted him into her arms. Oscar whimpered and growled in fear, unsure of what was happening, but Reams could tell he was just terrified.
It was obvious the little pup was malnourished and suffering from parasites. Still, as she held him close, Oscar seemed to realize he was finally safe.
Before leaving, Reams checked the entire area to make sure no other dogs had been abandoned.
“… I did a thorough search of the area, looked inside the dumpsters, underneath the dumpsters with a flashlight, he was the only one here,” Reams explained on TikTok.
She scanned Oscar for a microchip but didn’t find one.
Knowing her own rescue was already full, Reams contacted Angie Young, founder of Southern Mutts in Greenwood, Mississippi. Young immediately offered to take Oscar in once he was ready for adoption.
A Fresh Start
For now, Reams decided to foster him herself. She brought him home, gave him food, and gently bathed away the grime from his fur.
The next day, she took him to the vet for an exam. The veterinarian estimated Oscar was around six weeks old and diagnosed him with hookworm and ringworm infections.
After receiving medication and deworming treatments, Oscar returned home to rest. Reams even went back to the site to search again for his mother or siblings, but no others were found.
Oscar Learns To Trust Again
Under Reams’ care, Oscar began to recover both physically and emotionally. He was shy at first, hesitant to be picked up, but with time and love, he started to relax.
Soon, he was wagging his tail, playing with toys, and soaking up belly rubs from his foster mom.
Oscar will stay with Reams until he’s fully healed and strong enough to move on. When the time comes, he’ll begin his search for a forever home.
With his gentle heart and resilient spirit, it’s certain that this brave little pup will find the loving family he deserves.