As stray dogs wander the streets in search of scraps to quiet their hunger, they sometimes land themselves in desperate situations.
Cheeto was one of those unlucky pups, left helpless when his head became wedged inside a plastic container. He darted nervously through the neighborhood, unable to free himself from the jar.
Thankfully, compassionate neighbors noticed his struggle and reached out to The Last Stop Animal Rescue and Sanctuary, located in Carleton, Michigan.
The Search For Cheeto
Working alongside seasoned rescuer Kim Broman Canales, the shelter immediately launched a search to locate the pup. Canales set up trail cameras in hopes of spotting him.
Despite their persistence, Cheeto kept slipping away. Days passed, and with every hour, concern grew stronger. Rescuers worried he was running out of time.
“He couldn’t drink, he couldn’t eat and he was oxygen-deprived because it was so tight on his head. They spent three days out there day and night tracking him and finding his locations,” said Tom Walsh, the founder of The Last Stop Animal Rescue and Sanctuary.
Nervous and skittish from his ordeal, Cheeto wandered continuously.
Once they finally pinpointed his location, rescuers placed humane traps along his path. But with the jar blocking his sense of smell, he bypassed them.
Even with added scent boosters, Cheeto still couldn’t detect the food and kept running.
Exhausted and slowing down, rescuers feared the weakened pup might fall victim to coyotes roaming the area.
Safe At Last
On the third day of the rescue effort, Canales received a call from a Good Samaritan who had seen the dog near their home.
With the homeowner’s permission, she entered the property and began searching.
Spotting the stray by the garage, she crept quietly behind him, armed with a snappy snare.
She managed to slip the loop over his head and tightened it securely around his neck. Relief washed over her—Cheeto was finally safe.
Tears of joy streamed down her face as she carried him to her car and drove straight to the shelter.
There, staff carefully cut away the plastic jar that had imprisoned his face. The freed pup breathed easily again, and everyone rejoiced at his rescue.
Cheeto’s Road To Recovery
Once safe, Cheeto was given food and water. Thin and underweight, his ribs were visible.
He was soon transferred to Woodhaven Animal Hospital, in Michigan for a thorough exam. Veterinarians discovered worms and monoxide poisoning.
Tom Walsh and his wife, Sue, stepped in to provide round-the-clock care. They showered him with affection, and Cheeto rewarded them with sweet, slobbery kisses.
The Walshes suspected he had once belonged to someone, though he had no collar or microchip to trace his past.
In just a few days, the resilient pup already looked stronger, and his caregivers were confident he would fully regain his health soon.
At the shelter, everyone has fallen for Cheeto. He’s soaking up the love and finally experiencing the warmth of care he had been missing.
Before long, this affectionate dog will be ready to leave for a forever family of his own.