Donna Lochmann, chief life-saving officer with Stray Rescue of St. Louis (SRSL), is a passionate animal advocate with hundreds of rescues behind her.
She often drives around the city, scanning for abandoned or injured animals in need, while also responding to countless calls from people reporting pets in distress.
So, when she received a tip about a dog hiding in piles of trash beneath a busy highway, she wasted no time and rushed to the scene.
Help Is On The Way
The caller mentioned they had driven that route for several days, and each time, they spotted the same pup lingering in the same place.
When Lochmann arrived, though, there was no dog in sight.
Instead of leaving, she chose to wait a little while. Soon enough, faint noises came from a heap of trash, and to her surprise, a small face peeked out, cautiously observing her.
The little dog seemed torn, uncertain whether to trust her or bolt.
Knowing she needed to earn his confidence, Lochmann moved slowly, speaking softly and offering tasty treats in hopes of reassuring him.
The pup, who would later be called Gibson, didn’t accept the food right away, but he did allow her to touch him. That moment was all she needed to gently slip a leash around his neck.
It took him a few moments to gather the courage, but eventually, Gibson rose to his feet and followed her to the safety of her car.
New Chapter
The trip back to the shelter went smoothly. Once at Stray Rescue of St. Louis, Gibson enjoyed a warm bath and a hearty meal that filled his belly.
It wasn’t long before his sweet demeanor caught the eye of a dog lover, who quickly offered him a foster home full of comfort and care.
Gibson adapted beautifully, ready to embrace the new beginning he had so desperately needed.
According to Forbes, about 6.3 million animals enter shelters in the U.S. every year, which leaves many of them overcrowded. Stray Rescue of St. Louis faces this struggle too.
“Sadly, we have to go on another rescue freeze. We loved being on the streets this week, but more animals are coming in than are leaving. We don’t want to do this, we’ve been fighting it. But we have to say it because it’s the truth,” the shelter stated in a Facebook post.
This is why it’s so important for people to step up, whether by adopting permanently or fostering temporarily.
Every act of kindness makes an incredible difference, lightening the load for shelters and reminding the animals that they truly are worthy of love.