The Stray Rescue of St. Louis made a gracious appeal for photographs of a dog peacefully resting on a street during a heatwave, seeking to assess the situation and provide the best possible assistance to the pup.
Donna Lochmann, the Chief Lifesaving Officer at Stray Rescue of St. Louis, shared, "The image provided by this individual depicted the dog lying down. While it was challenging to make out details, there was a hint of visible hip bones. This gave me a sense that it was worth investigating."
Despite her prompt arrival, locating the puppy posed a challenge for Lochmann. However, in a fortuitous turn of events, she chose to venture into an alley, where she spotted him.
"In that alley, I found him, sprawled out on the pavement. He had positioned himself near water trickling from a gutter – likely an effort to find relief from the sweltering heat," Lochmann recounted.
As she approached, the dire condition of the dog became evident to Lochmann.
"As I reached the end of the alley, he must have heard my approach. I observed him lifting his head slightly, glancing around, before lowering it back onto the curb as if he had surrendered all hope."
The sight of the despondent dog on the street tugged at Lochmann's heartstrings.
"It was truly heart-wrenching," Lochmann shared. "In that moment, I made a firm decision – there was no way I could leave him there."
Fortunately, the mistreated dog displayed no hesitance to be rescued. Even without a leash, he made his way to Lochmann's vehicle on his own.
"I began to speak to him, saying, 'Come on, buddy... we're here to help you.'"
The dog approached the car and settled in comfortably.
"I typically keep blankets in the back of the jeep, so he lay down immediately," Lochmann added.
The endearing puppy, later named Curby, thoroughly enjoyed his "freedom ride" to safety, as described by the shelter.
"He was placed in a foster home fairly quickly," Lochmann confirmed. "A couple came across his video and the wife turned to her husband, saying, 'That dog shouldn't spend another moment in a shelter.' They promptly came and adopted him."
In addition to finding incredibly caring caregivers and a canine sibling he adores cuddling with, Curby is thriving in his new foster environment. His unique personality is beginning to emerge, and he has begun to regain lost weight.
"His foster parents have completely fallen for him," Lochmann beamed. "He has turned out to be an exceptionally gentle and affectionate companion."