Standing up is something most cats do without anyone stopping to notice. When Abby finally did it, weeks of treatment had come before that small movement. The 3-year-old stray had arrived severely dehydrated, unable to eat on her own and barely able to move. After days outdoors with severe burns, she needed help with the…
The dog was already being called “vicious” before Baltimore police officer Dan Waskiewicz met him. But when Waskiewicz arrived to investigate the complaint in 2012, he found a frightened pit bull. Children were chasing him and throwing glass bottles, according to contemporary reporting from WBAL. The officer took time to watch what was happening. Then…
The woman was on her way to work when she found a dog who couldn’t stand. She offered her food, but Dega was too weak to eat it. Unable to take Dega to the office, the woman covered her with a blanket. She took photographs and recorded a short video to send to rescuers, asking…
Reese had only just met the big dog outside a Georgia gas station. Already, the thought of getting back into the car without him was enough to make the 6-year-old cry. The dog had walked straight up to his family, happy to receive their attention. But when Reese’s parents asked about him, they learned that…
By the 35th day of his recovery, Rudy was wearing dinosaur pajamas. His ears looked wonderfully goofy, his eyes were brighter, and he was beginning to act like a puppy with things to say and places to go. When ThisIsHouston first stepped in to help him, he couldn’t hold himself up. Estimated to be younger…
Getting Stefany somewhere safe was the beginning Helping her feel safe around people would take longer. The dog had survived being tied up and abandoned inside three garbage bags in Monte Pascoal, Brazil. A spinal cord injury had changed how she would move for the rest of her life, and she struggled to trust the…
An empty kennel is something animal shelter workers hope to see. A whole row of them is a reason to celebrate. Just before Christmas in December 2023, the team at Adams County SPCA in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, had an extraordinary announcement. Every dog in their care had found a home. Only two weeks earlier, the kennels…
The shelter was just across the street. Henry couldn’t reach it on his own. He was chained to a nearby pole when shelter staff came to help. After they removed the chain and slipped a leash over his head, the severely underweight dog still did not have the strength to finish the short walk. So…
Before the couple could carry Birdie to safety, they had to earn her trust. The frightened dog struggled to move on badly injured legs, and getting close enough to stroke her head took repeated attempts. When she finally accepted their touch, they lifted her into their car. Birdie was leaving the street with people willing…
Officer Joel Nitchman struggled to open the patrol vehicle’s door as wind and rain swept across the parking lot. Inside, his K9 partner, Roni, hesitated to come out. The dog could see the conditions his handler was asking him to enter. But Nitchman was worried about what could happen if Roni stayed where he was….