You might not expect how tough some dogs can be, especially those who’ve already weathered so much.
Just when it seems they’ve hit rock bottom through no fault of their own, they find a way to rise up and astonish everyone.
This little pup, left on the doorstep of a Michigan adoption center, is living proof.
She was abandoned in the dead of winter, with nothing but a blanket to keep her company.
When rescuers first discovered her, they feared she’d already passed, but then she revealed an astonishing will to live.
They Thought She Crossed The Rainbow Bridge
Corinne, director of the Grosse Pointe Animal Adoption Society in Michigan, was stunned when she arrived the next morning. The heartbreaking sight at the entrance left her momentarily speechless, and she immediately sprang into action.
“It was found this morning on just a blanket. By its condition, we think it was there most of the night in the cold,” GPAAS wrote in a Facebook post.
Martin carried the pup inside for a closer look.
“I pulled it inside the building, so I could assess the pup and see what was going on,” Martin told WXYZ Detroit.
The little dog was matted with blood, her paws grotesquely swollen. Severe mange had stripped her of almost all her fur, and her skin was so dry it must have been unbearably itchy and painful.
Thankfully, despite her grim appearance, her life wasn’t in immediate danger.
She was carefully transported to a local veterinary hospital, where she underwent several days of medicated baths and antibiotics to heal her ravaged skin.
Once the story went up on Facebook, messages of support poured in from across the country.
But there was one detail still to settle, what to call this brave survivor?
The Michigan rescue asked their friends and followers to help them name this resilient pup who had survived the worst trauma of her life, and one commenter came up with the perfect suggestion!
The Name That Suits Her Perfectly
Enter Gritty, the name suggested by a follower, inspired by Michigan’s own NFL team, the Detroit Lions, renowned for their tenacity.
“Gritty…not a very feminine name, but she certainly embodies the spirit of our Detroit Lions…never give up,” the commenter wrote.
It turns out there could be no more fitting moniker. Gritty’s perseverance carried her through her darkest hours, and now that she’s safe, her indomitable spirit shines brighter than ever.
Her recovery has outpaced everyone’s hopes: in just a few days, she’s begun to feel vastly better, and her glorious new coat is already starting to sprout.
For the time being, Gritty will remain with a foster caregiver experienced in special-needs dogs.
Once she’s fully ready, she’ll be listed for adoption through GPAAS. Here’s hoping Gritty finds someone who sees precisely how extraordinary she is, and understands that her name is anything but accidental.