The skinny pittie was just trying to find comfort, but he couldn’t stop shivering. The bus bench he had curled up on was unyielding, and the cold wind never let up.
He coughed relentlessly.
A Helping Hand in the Cold
A Good Samaritan noticed the brown-and-white dog glued to the bench and decided to bring him inside to escape the chill. The dog’s first stop was Chicago Animal Care and Control, where he was named Parker and placed on stray hold.
Parker was suffering from kennel cough, and his skin was patchy and red, evidence of how long he had been struggling alone.
A Heartfelt Rescue
Once in the shelter system, many dogs are forgotten, but Parker’s story struck a chord. His image on the bench spread quickly online, and soon, One Tail at a Time saw it. As soon as his stray hold ended, the rescue stepped forward to give Parker a second chance.
“For so many dogs, that could be the end… but not for Parker,” wrote One Tail at a Time on Facebook. “Parker is about to learn what it means to be safe. To be loved. To be warm. To be healthy. And with any luck, to be adopted.”
Parker Blossoms in Foster Care
At his foster home, Parker started to shine. It became clear that he had once had a family—he was house-trained, great on a leash, and didn’t mind being kenneled.
Though Parker is still recovering from his kennel cough, he shows gratitude every day for his new life.
“Parker is still getting over his kennel cough, but luckily, he started treatment right away and is in a loving foster home,” said Kimberly Thomas, marketing manager for One Tail at a Time. “He tolerates his baths and medicine well and loves to play. He’s still active, and his foster calls him ‘a total goober.’
He loves to nap on the couch, especially right by his foster’s legs, and doesn’t mind wearing jammies to help with his itchy skin.”
A Joyful Companion Ready for Adoption
Parker loves everyone he meets and is content to snuggle or play with toys. His foster family is certain that once he’s ready for his forever home, he’ll bring happiness wherever he goes.
“He will be ready for adoption soon,” Thomas said. “Once his medicated baths and CRID medicine are completed, he’ll be scheduled for neuter surgery and then become adoptable.”
If you live in the Chicago area and are interested in adopting Parker, you can fill out an application on One Tail at a Time’s website.
