Rosie, a staff member at Stray Rescue of St. Louis, was taking a shelter dog for a walk, unaware of the shocking scene she was about to stumble upon.
The moment she noticed an abandoned crate covered with a tarp left on a sidewalk, she froze in disbelief.
Her heart sank as she rushed toward it, fearing that someone had abandoned pets and hoping she found them in time.
The crate sat directly under the blazing sun, and that day, temperatures in St. Louis, Missouri, had soared to 98 degrees.
Saved In Time
Terribly worried, Rosie quickly called for help.
“[They] radioed on their walkie talkie. They felt a little panicked because it was so hot outside,” a representative from Stray Rescue of St. Louis told The Dodo.
Rosie talked in a soft voice as she lifted the tarp. She was stunned to see two sweet dogs, desperately waiting to be saved.
“They were panting heavily and needed to get inside right away,” the representative added.
When the dogs saw Rosie, they were both relieved and grateful to have been found in time.
The staff rushed the pups, later named Arnold Jackson and Punky Brewster, to the clinic. The vet staff offered them water, examined them, and gave them vaccinations.
Both pups, a male and a female, were estimated to be three years old and were assumed to be siblings.
The dogs had a sweet disposition despite the nightmare they endured.
Since the Missouri shelter was at capacity, the staff started looking for fosters. They took photos of the dogs and shared them on the shelter’s foster page, asking whether anyone could open their homes to them.
Arnold found a foster home pretty quickly, while Punky remained at the shelter, hoping that her turn would come.
Starting New Lives Filled With Love
Eventually, both pups met wonderful families who took them home, promising to love them unconditionally.
Arnold and Punky enjoy their time with their families. Finally, they have everything they’ve ever wished for — a great home and loving parents.
“These dogs are going to have wonderful futures! They are both so sweet,” the representative shared.
From desperate, abandoned dogs left on the sidewalk, Arnold and Punky blossomed into joyful pups who discover every day how beautiful life truly is.
A big thank-you goes to the wonderful staff at Stray Rescue of St. Louis for saving their lives and helping them reach their greatest dreams.
We hope that no dog will ever face abandonment again, and that every dog owner understands that it’s never acceptable to leave a pet behind — their well-being must always be our priority.
If owners truly have no other option but to give up their pets, we urge them to surrender them to a shelter where they will be taken care of. It’s the least any loyal companion deserves.