For days, a tiny white puppy lay stranded in a roadside ditch, frightened and alone, trying to make sense of why she had been left behind.
Her body ached, hunger gnawed at her, and she clung to the faintest spark of hope.
“Why bring me into your life if you weren’t going to love me? Why am I hungry? Why am I lying here in pain? Why is everything so hard… Why?”
There were no answers to those questions. But everything changed the moment she trusted a gentle voice that stopped to help. That single act of kindness turned her world around.
A Frantic Plea
While walking along a quiet road in North Carolina, Margaret Hamilton, founder of Ruby and Laurel Animal Rescue, Inc., noticed something unusual.
A small white shape was barely discernible in the ditch beside her. She immediately stopped to investigate. Kneeling down, Margaret was met with the pungent scent of the puppy’s mangy, infected skin.
The sight was heartbreaking.
The little dog was in terrible condition, her body covered with sores, her spirit fading rapidly. By sheer fortune, a rescuer had come upon her.
“This baby has seen the worst of humans, but still belly crawled out of the ditch and into my arms. She goes in first thing tomorrow for medical treatment and vaccines,” Margaret shared on TikTok.
Despite exhaustion, fear, and pain, the puppy summoned her final reserves of strength, crawling into Margaret’s arms. Instantly, she seemed to understand she was finally safe.
Back at Margaret’s home, the path to healing began. She gently trimmed the puppy’s overgrown nails and gave her a soothing medicated bath to relieve her raw, sunburned skin.
Steps Toward Healing And Recovery
The following morning, Margaret brought the little dog to the veterinarian for a thorough examination. Fortunately, she tested negative for heartworm.
Though estimated to be around three years old, her extreme undernourishment made her resemble a much younger puppy. Her frail condition reflected a history of neglect and hardship.
Margaret chose to name her Slurpee. Within days, Slurpee began to show remarkable improvement. Her eyes brightened, her tail wagged, and a gentle spark of joy returned to her personality.
“Slurpee is feeling better by the day and we are already seeing improvements on her skin condition. Demodectic mange looks scary but is not contagious,” Margaret updated.
@maggierlar Medical Update! Slurpee is approximately 3 years old and is heartworm NEGATIVE! Happy happy happy dance!
♬ original sound – Maggie
Today, Slurpee is safe, loved, and steadily recovering.
In a few more weeks, her skin will heal completely, her strength will return, and her past will fade into memory. Her brighter days have just begun. Those wishing to support Slurpee’s recovery and help other dogs in need can contribute through the rescue’s GoFundMe page and make a difference for more lives in need.