Once upon a time, officials from animal control stumbled upon a furry creature in the midst of a forest. To their horror, they found that the poor creature was bound by a thick leather strap that had been securely attached to a chain. Furthermore, it appeared that the helpless creature had been cruelly tied to a tree.
The small creature was found amidst bones and appeared to be filled with fear. Based on the surroundings, it seemed that someone had intentionally left him there to perish. Sadly, he had no access to nourishment or hydration. Courtney Bellew, who oversees animal rescue and rehabilitation at Snarr, shared that upon discovery, they speculated that the animal’s past experiences were likely traumatic.
His name was Stewart and he was taken to a shelter where the first few days were tough for him. However, his situation was worse than most puppies at the shelter. He would spend entire days curled up in a corner, not wanting anyone to come near him. One of the helpers described him as being extremely frightened and unwilling to be approached.
Whenever someone approached him, he would retreat, growl, and conceal his head, suggesting that he had been mistreated. The leather collar around his neck was so heavy that no one could remove it because he was so fearful. “Stewart was so uneasy when we approached him that we came up with a new idea,” shared Rebecca Rood, one of the assistants. “We figured we’d give him some space to unwind.”
It can be a real challenge for a puppy in such a situation to find a forever home. Nevertheless, the kind-hearted volunteers were determined to help. They made efforts to provide the pup with more time and room, but unfortunately, nothing seemed to work.
He wasn’t eating much and they couldn’t take him to the vet. Courtney made the decision to calm him down with medication in order to transport him and conduct some tests. The veterinary specialist recommended a course of treatment to help him regain his strength. While the little one was sedated, Courtney seized the opportunity to remove the harmful accessory.
As soon as Stewart woke up, he felt a sense of relief and his attitude transformed dramatically. He even dared to take a look at the volunteers and appeared willing to engage with them for the first time. Courtney recollected that the collar around Stewart’s neck symbolized a burden from his past. However, when they removed it, he started to become more receptive and even showed signs of happiness by wagging his tail.
You might have heard the sad cries of Stewart and felt hopeless, but luckily he was found by the best rescuers who are determined to help him recover completely. It’s unclear what this little dog has been through to make him so scared of humans, but every act of kindness from his rescuers will help him forget his traumatic past. Please share this message to spread awareness that all dogs deserve a chance for a better life.