When Officer Ashley Sanchez from Eastpointe Police Animal Control Division in Michigan got a call about a supposed stray wandering near someone’s house, she didn’t expect what she would uncover.
She arrived at the location and found an older, underweight dog sitting on the porch.
The woman who made the call told Sanchez she was scared of the dog and wanted him taken away. She said she didn’t recognize him and had never seen him before.
But Sanchez noticed something strange. The dog kept heading toward the door like he wanted to go inside.
What Rescuers Discovered Was Shocking
As Sanchez lifted the dog into her truck, he continued glancing back at the house, clearly confused and unsure of what was going on.
She scanned him for a microchip and made a startling discovery.
The dog’s name was Duke, and he was registered to the very woman who had called animal control claiming he was a stray.
Fourteen-year-old Duke had lived his entire life with this family, and now they had abandoned him when he needed them most.
Sanchez was devastated.
Detroit Pit Crew Dog Rescue, an organization dedicated to helping stray, injured, and sick dogs in Detroit, heard about Duke’s situation and offered to pay for his medical treatment.
He was brought to an emergency clinic where veterinarians gave him a thorough exam.
Duke was severely underweight, diagnosed with Lyme disease, and his bloodwork showed other serious issues.
He began receiving treatment right away.
The rescue team made a promise to Duke that once he recovered, they’d help him find a forever home where he would finally be loved again.
Duke Begins to Heal
On April 12th of 2025, Detroit Pit Crew Dog Rescue shared a video update about Duke.
In the clip, Officer Sanchez is seen gently petting Duke and feeding him while he eagerly gobbles down his meal.
As he ate, he paused to lick Sanchez’s face, a gesture that seemed to say thank you.
The officer remembered how Duke had kept trying to go back into his home the day he was cast out.
“She knowingly abandoned him… He kept going from his front door, then kept going to the side back gate, just trying to get in his property. He didn’t understand why he was out there,” Sanchez said in the update shared on Facebook.
After learning the truth, Sanchez tried to speak with the owner, but the woman refused to open the door.
Sanchez later said she consulted a prosecutor, and that Duke’s former owner would be cited for several violations, including filing a false police report.
Thankfully, Duke is healing. I hope that one day soon, he’ll forget the pain of his past and find a family who will care for him the way he always deserved.