When an employee at Cayjo Peruvian Cuisine in Orlando, Florida, noticed an abandoned white van in the parking lot during their morning walk, they didn’t suspect that something might be wrong.
However, after realizing that the van stayed at the same place for the entire day, the employee thought it was suspicious and called the police.
Once the officers arrived at the scene, they began searching the van, unaware of the heartbreaking discovery awaiting them.
The Heartbreaking Scene
The police officer described the interior of the car as “a state of disarray.” The car was filled with debris and random objects scattered everywhere.
The driver’s side window was smashed and broken pieces of glass were sticking out.
Yet, what shocked the officers the most was the sad brown pup who was huddled inside the chaos.
He couldn’t escape because of a large piece of wood that kept him confined to the back of the van. The dog’s fear was reflected in his eyes.
The authorities were unable to find his family. They promised him that they would help him and they contacted Orange County Animal Services and asked for their assistance.
The shelter staff took the pup, later named Mason, into their care and began looking after him.
The dog needed some time to relax. He was anxious and scared around people.
“He’s still struggling to trust people, and we don’t blame him one bit,” Orange County Animal Services wrote in a Facebook post.
Since Mason had a hard time adjusting to the shelter environment, an animal behavior specialist started spending time with him to help him feel more comfortable.
A Second Chance To Be Happy
The pup found comfort in stuffed toys and he carried them everywhere.
Mason was fearful of strangers because of his difficult past. He was also protective of his space and he barked at potential adopters who considered him aggressive, and as a result, they passed him by.
The Florida staff knew that deep down, Mason was a sweetheart. He only needed someone who would give him love.
They shared his harrowing story on Facebook, asking the adopters to give him a chance and to get to know him.
“We’re hoping by sharing his story, we can appeal to someone who will look past his kennel presentation, take him out to a play yard … take the opportunity to get to know him, and see the dog he can be with a bit of love,” the rescue added.
Luckily, his story touched a wonderful family who saw Mason for who he truly was. They adopted him and gave him the love that he needed all along.
Mason turned a new leaf, and he now enjoys his new life. Finally, all his dreams came true.