Kind Rescuers Carry Skinny Pup a Mile Out of the Woods and Melt Hearts

1 month ago 10

When rescuers at Stray Rescue of St. Louis heard that a puppy was lost deep in the woods all alone, they didn’t waste a second. They packed their supplies, grabbed some tasty dog treats, and rushed out to help. The team knew how scary and cold the forest could be, especially for a little dog with no one around. So, they were determined to find him before nightfall.

The woods were massive, and despite their efforts, they couldn’t spot the pup for hours. Just when they were about to give up and head home, something caught their eye — a small gray shape curled up in the dry leaves. That’s when they realized their search was finally over.

A Gentle Approach

“You Are Safe Now, Sweet Boy.”
The rescue team had no doubt that this pup was the one they had been looking for.

But as they got closer, the little dog grew nervous. He didn’t recognize these people and didn’t know what they wanted. Thankfully, one of the rescuers slowly reached out with a delicious treat, trying to earn the pup’s trust. The smell of food must have reminded him how hungry he really was — he quickly gobbled it up.

This small gesture gave the pup the courage to stand up. That’s when they noticed something was wrong — he had a wound on his leg. On top of that, he was so thin you could see his bones sticking out under his skin. Time was running out, too — if they didn’t leave soon, darkness would make it harder to find their way back.

Fear of the Unknown

As they started to head out of the woods, the team ran into another issue. The pup was too scared to follow them. He didn’t know where they were going, and the forest was the only place he knew.

To help him feel safe, one rescuer gently picked him up and carried him to a nearby trail. There, the pup felt safe enough to walk a little bit on his own. But soon, another problem came up — their car was still a mile away, and the pup was too weak to walk that far. Without thinking twice, the rescuers took turns carrying him all the way back.

Even though the sun had already started to go down, they reached the car before it got too dark. From there, they drove him straight to a clinic so he could get the medical care he badly needed.

She Mistreated 66 Dogs—And Can Still Own Pets Legally!

All 66 dogs had some kind of physical injuries; three of them were so beyond help that they had to be euthanized. Sign the petition now to tell the Senate that we must do better to protect our beloved animals

A Long Road to Healing

The brave pup was finally safe and sound. They named him Matlock.
“He had the best night’s sleep he’s had in a very. long. Time. He is not out of the woods, and he’ll have to fight for his life. His body weight is at a very dangerous level, especially for the size dog he is. But he’s in the right place. He’s very sweet and very safe. You got this buddy,” the rescue wrote on their Facebook page.

Though Matlock was now surrounded by people who cared, his journey was far from over. The vet found that the wound on his leg wasn’t just a simple injury — it was actually a tumor that needed urgent treatment. But at least now, he was no longer alone. He finally had people who would fight for him and help him heal.

If you want to follow Matlock’s story or support his recovery, you can visit his page. His journey may have started in fear, but with love and care, he now has a chance at a happy life.