As the people of St. Louis, Missouri, prepared for the heavy rainstorms last week, the devoted rescuers from Stray Rescue of St. Louis (SRSL) didn’t let the weather deter them. Their mission to save abandoned animals continued, no matter the conditions.
Led by SRSL’s chief life-saving officer, Donna Lochmann, the team ventured out into the storm, determined to find and help homeless pets. During one of their searches, they made a heartbreaking discovery at a nearby park.
At first glance, the park appeared empty, its green spaces and covered patio with picnic tables eerily quiet. But soon, a tiny white face peeked out from between two benches, catching the rescuers’ attention.
Lochmann and her team were devastated to find a small puppy all alone, tied up at the park. Their sadness deepened when they realized why the pup hadn’t moved from his spot.
“The little puppy was tied up and left at a park, and he’s COVERED in ringworm,” SRSL shared on Facebook.
Tragically, the puppy’s former family had left him tethered to one of the picnic tables, abandoning him to face the storm by himself. Helpless and unable to escape, the little dog, later named Wilbur, had no choice but to wait for someone to find him.
Fortunately, Wilbur’s saviors arrived in time. The rescue team spoke gently to Wilbur as he whimpered in fear. They carefully untied the trembling pup from the bench and lifted him into their arms.
At first, the small dog was scared. But once he was safely inside Lochmann’s truck and nestled on her lap, his anxiety began to melt away.
“He was so brave when we first approached, but then, as soon as we got into the Jeep, he curled up on Donna’s lap and let out a deep sigh — that sigh said so much,” SRSL wrote.
Lochmann wasted no time driving Wilbur to SRSL’s headquarters, where a compassionate team of professionals eagerly welcomed him. They quickly diagnosed Wilbur with a severe case of ringworm; and started him on a regimen of medicated baths and other necessary treatments.
Despite the ringworm, Wilbur was otherwise in good health. After a few days of healing and some much-needed rest; this resilient puppy was ready to be placed in a foster home.
You can watch more footage of Wilbur’s rescue here:
Updates
Wilbur has since settled into his foster home, where he’s thriving more with each passing day. Although his skin condition is still healing, his spirits are high, and he’s enjoying his new life.
“Wilbur is doing great!” Wilbur’s foster mom told The Dodo. “The other dogs are tolerating him, and he is a snuggle bug. He sleeps right on top of them. He wants nothing more than to be loved.”
Wilbur is soaking up every moment in his foster home, and his rescuers at SRSL couldn’t be happier for him. They’re still searching for his forever family, but they know that Wilbur’s life has already taken a significant turn for the better.
“He’ll never have to be lonely or muster up that much bravery ever again,” SRSL wrote.
