On a freezing day in Missouri, the rescue team spotted a terrified stray pup running along the railroad tracks, and their hearts sank.
With a train expected at any moment, the rescuers knew they had no time to lose.
The small white dog kept moving down the metro line, worn out and unsure of where to go. All he longed for was for someone to notice him and bring him to warmth and safety.
Racing Against Time To Rescue The Pup
The rescuers worried about more than just the approaching train.
“[T]he spot [where] we initially saw him on the tracks was open and right above the river. One wrong step and he could have very easily fallen in,” Donna Lochmann, the chief life-saving officer at Stray Rescue of St. Louis, told The Dodo.
Lochmann’s instinct was to rush toward the pup, later named Laclede, and scoop him up before disaster struck.
But staff members stopped her from risking her own life on the dangerous tracks.
Instead, she used her trusted method: tempting the frightened pup with treats to lure him to safety.
Meanwhile, metro workers warned the conductor about the dog on the tracks, slowing the incoming train. Compassionate employees hurried toward the line, guiding the stray closer to rescuers.
Their teamwork paid off. Lochmann finally managed to secure Laclede with a leash, and everyone sighed with relief.
“He was scared, filthy, so skinny and freezing. The temperatures that day were in single digits, and the wind was so cold … it was nice to finally get him off those tracks,” Lochmann said.
At first, Laclede didn’t quite understand that he was safe.
Finding Comfort In Gentle Arms
Lochmann carried the shivering pup to her warm Jeep, wrapping him in love and safety. The rescuers showered him with cuddles, and soon the little dog curled up and drifted off to sleep.
They drove him to the rescue’s headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri, where the vet team gave him a full checkup. Aside from being skinny and dirty, Laclede was healthy.
After a soothing bath and some hearty meals, the frightened pup began to brighten. His eyes shimmered with gratitude as he looked at his rescuers.
The once hopeless dog wagged his tail nonstop, finally sensing that his luck had changed.
Day after day, he grew stronger and more joyful, winning over everyone at the shelter with his sweet nature.
“Everyone who meets Laclede falls in love instantly. He’s a big, boisterous, joyful boy, but he is also so gentle and caring,” the rescue wrote in a Facebook post.
The staff adored him and eagerly awaited the moment when he would meet his forever family.
Hoping For A Forever Home
Now, surrounded by care and affection, Laclede no longer trembles with fear. He treasures the love given freely by his rescuers, but deep down he still dreams of a family of his own.
The playful pup longs for the day he can run into the arms of his true family, shower them with hugs, and begin the life he was meant to live.
I hope with all my heart that Laclede’s dream comes true soon. He deserves nothing less.