Strangers Found Kostek in the Mud and Stayed While They Searched for Help
Kostek was lying in the mud near Sieradz, Poland, when strangers found him that morning. The German shepherd was so weak he could barely lift his head.
They stayed beside him while they looked for help. Morning turned into afternoon, and they were still there.
It was around 4 p.m., roughly six hours after they found Kostek, when their call reached the animal rescue group DIOZ.
The Call That Reached DIOZ
DIOZ, the animal rescue group that responded, came to get Kostek. In the rescue account shared by Dublin Shelter, the narrator recalls, “When we received a call about a dying dog on the roadside, we rushed to help”.
When the responders reached him, Kostek could barely keep his eyes open. They lifted him into their vehicle and took him for emergency veterinary care.
The Veterinary Team Began Warming Him
Kostek’s body temperature was dangerously low. PDSA describes the condition this way: “Hypothermia is when an animal’s body temperature drops dangerously low.”
At the clinic, the team began warming Kostek. They gave him fluids and medication, ran tests and watched how he responded.
If you find a dog in this condition, call an emergency veterinarian for guidance. For dogs showing signs of hypothermia, the RSPCA advises, “Don’t heat them up too quickly or place anything hot directly on the skin.”
The Team Kept Watch as Kostek Received Care
Kostek was also severely dehydrated and anemic. He was still too weak to stand on his own as the team worked to stabilize him.
VCA Canada Animal Hospitals describes one way anemia can affect dogs: “Anemic dogs also have little stamina or energy, so they seem listless or tire more easily.”
The rescuers sum up the urgency of those hours: “Every hour felt critical”.
Kostek died after receiving emergency care, according to DIOZ’s account reported in the Polish press. His final hours were spent with a veterinary team working to save him.
The People Who Stayed With Kostek
The people who found Kostek had no way of knowing how the day would end. They could stay with him and keep looking for help. So they did.
DIOZ responders got him to a clinic, where the veterinary team took over. By then, the strangers had already spent much of the day beside a dog they had only just met.
If someone comes to mind who would have stayed beside Kostek that morning, share his story with them.
Also read:
Atlas Could Barely Lift His Head. Then His Rescuers Helped Him Stand Again
