After hearing about a dog wandering alone in the woods, the rescuers at Stray Rescue of St. Louis gathered their supplies and quickly set out.
They knew the woods could be cold and frightening, so they rushed to find him, bringing tasty food to comfort the hungry pup.
Since the forest stretched so far, the search took hours without success. Just as the team considered heading back, they spotted a small gray figure curled up in the dry leaves.
Safe At Last, Sweet Pup
The team instantly realized they had found the one they came for.
The little dog was startled by the strangers. Surrounded by unfamiliar faces, he froze in fear, unsure of what they meant to do.
One rescuer slowly pulled out a treat, walked toward him, and offered it gently. The moment the smell reached him, he gobbled it up, finally easing his empty stomach.
The food gave him enough courage to rise and follow the people trying to save him. But as soon as he stood, one rescuer noticed a wound on his leg.
He was also painfully thin, his bones showing through his frail body.
Another problem was pressing too. If they didn’t head out soon, darkness would fall, and getting back would be far more difficult.
Carried To Safety
As they started back, a new challenge appeared. The dog was terrified to step out of the woods.
To help him, a rescuer gently lifted him and carried him to the path. Once there, he managed to walk for a while, but the car was still a mile away.
Exhaustion quickly overcame him. He couldn’t go on any farther. Thankfully, the rescuers were ready to help. Smiling through the effort, they carried him the whole way.
Though the sun had set, they reached the car before darkness took over completely.
Now, it was time to bring him to the clinic for the care he so badly needed.
The pup, now named Matlock, was finally safe.
“He had the best night’s sleep he’s had in a very. long. Time. He is not out of the woods, and he’ll have to fight for his life. His body weight is at a very dangerous level, especially for the size dog he is. But he’s in the right place. He’s very sweet and very safe. You got this buddy,” the rescue wrote on their Facebook page.
At last, Matlock could rest in safety, surrounded by the affection he had been missing.
But his journey was far from over. Tests showed that the wound on his leg was actually a tumor that required urgent treatment.Anyone wishing to support his recovery can follow his updates and donate through his page.