As soon as Briana Flores and her team from iPittytheBull, a nonprofit organization in Chino, California, received a call about an injured dog hiding beneath a car, they immediately rushed to the location.
When they peered under the broken-down vehicle, they spotted a frightened dog with the saddest look on her face.
The rescuers tried speaking softly to the pup, but she didn’t respond. She lay completely still, too scared to trust anyone
Flores reached out with food, hoping it might help.
The moment the starving pup caught the scent, she inched forward and began to eat.
The rescuers couldn’t have known that what seemed like a simple rescue would soon reveal something they never expected.
Pulling Stella To Safety
Even though the dog slowly began letting her guard down, she refused to leave the security of her hiding spot.
Determined to help her, the team kept offering food until she felt brave enough to move closer.
Finally, the pup, later named Stella, allowed Flores to slip a leash around her neck. She froze in fear, but with more food and patience, she started to calm down.
After about fifteen minutes, Stella was finally out from under the car.
Seeing her up close broke the rescuers’ hearts. Stella was malnourished, weak, and covered in injuries.
Although her belly looked unusually large, no one could tell if she was pregnant.
The team coaxed her into the car, placing her gently in the front seat. She stared back at them with overwhelming sadness in her eyes.
Up close, the damage was clearer. Stella’s body was covered in wounds, with especially deep injuries on her head and neck.
Flores and her crew knew she needed urgent help, so they drove her to a veterinary clinic in Anaheim, California.
A Shocking Discovery At The Clinic
When Stella arrived at the hospital, everyone assumed she was pregnant.
But the X-ray revealed something entirely different, leaving the room in silence.
Stella’s stomach was filled with sharp objects.
The scan also showed contusions on her lungs and a torn intestine.
Her condition was critical. The veterinary team worked tirelessly to save her, hoping she had been rescued in time.
They suspected Stella had suffered abuse at the hands of a cruel owner before managing to escape.
For the first time in days, her rescuers finally breathed again when she began to improve.
Once she was stable, Flores and her husband John, founder of iPittytheBull, took her home to foster.
There, they surrounded Stella with love and showed her that kindness still existed.
Little by little, she began to heal, both physically and emotionally.
Stella’s Miraculous Recovery
Eight days after her rescue, Stella’s wounds and lung injuries had already healed. Even the sharp objects had passed without further harm.
The vet team was stunned.
“The vets can’t explain how she healed so quickly they can only read what they see on the xrays. Our girl is expected to make 100% complete recovery making her one step closer to her forever home,“ the rescue wrote in a Facebook post.
Despite everything she had endured, Stella’s forgiving nature shone through. She trusted her foster family, cuddling up to them and enjoying her walks.
Her strength and resilience amazed everyone around her.
When she was finally ready, Stella met the perfect family who adored her instantly.
She left her painful past behind and started fresh, embraced by the love she always deserved.
Thanks to the incredible rescuers and devoted fosters, Stella now has the happy life every dog should know.