It’s not uncommon to see dogs abandoned on the street. Quite the opposite, this, unfortunately, is a rising trend all over the country, mainly rooted in irresponsible owner behavior and neglect.
One such case recently caught the attention of a passerby in San Antonio, Texas.
While walking near a dry creek, the person spotted an unusual sight on the sidewalk: a small plastic crate turned on its side. Upon closer inspection, the passerby realized the crate wasn’t empty — and that shocked them to the core!
What’s Inside? Just A Tiny Furball
The person immediately notified the City of San Antonio Animal Care Services about the situation on the sidewalk. The pup found inside the crate was barely moving under the hot Texas sun, and clearly needed help.
Officer Garza was on the spot within minutes.
“When Animal Care Officer Garza arrived, he spotted the small crate on the sidewalk. Weathered, tipped over, and holding a fragile pup inside,” the Texas rescuers wrote in a Facebook statement.
The condition in which he found the dog, later named Leo, was truly heartbreaking.
Leo was completely helpless. He had ticks and fleas all over his body, and almost couldn’t lift his head. In fact, the only movement he made was to crawl further inside the crate when Officer Garza tried to help him. He was so scared!
“Leo was curled in on himself. He didn’t get up. He didn’t make a sound. His small body was crawling with fleas and ticks, and he looked so, so tired,” the rescuers added in the post.
The officer assumed this little pup was either hit by a car, or severely neglected in the past.
Leo was underweight and seemed too tired to do anything. Fortunately, all that was about to change!
The minute Officer Garza placed him in the car together with the crate, Leo perked up. Thanks to the car’s air conditioning, he cooled down and raised his head for the first time, as if trying to say: “Thank you,” to the kind rescuer.
A New Chance And A New Name
Thanks to the Animal Care Services, Leo was successfully treated for ticks and fleas, and received the necessary vaccinations.
Then, he received another piece of exciting news! The organization collaborating with the Animal Care Services, SNIPSA, offered to get Leo in their foster program. Within days, he was transferred to a loving home with an experienced foster parent.
And, of course, with a fresh start, this little boy needed a fresh new name! That’s why the rescuers decided to name him Arroyo (meaning “dry creek” in Spanish).
Apparently, all it took for this scared and shy boy to come out of his shell was some love. After a few days in foster care, Arroyo was already a brand-new dog.
He started to eat, cuddle, and enjoy the simple things in life, such as cozy bed naps. After what was probably a lifetime of neglect, Arroyo now had it all. And he couldn’t be happier!
“He is already eating out of his foster’s hand, snuggling in his bed, and accepting pets. Arroyo is a sweet dog with a bright future shining just ahead,” SNIPSA stated on their website.
Although still not ready to meet his forever parents, there’s no doubt that Arroyo will make a perfect pet. Hopefully, his future parents are just around the corner!