When Stray Rescue of St. Louis received a call about a dog resting on a residential street during a heatwave, they kindly requested the caller to email them pictures of the pup so they could assess the situation and determine how to provide assistance.
Donna Lochmann, the Chief Lifesaving Officer of Stray Rescue of St. Louis, mentioned to The Dodo that “the picture this person provided showed the dog lying down.” It was hard to be certain, but it seemed like the dog’s hip bones were visible. This made her believe that investigating the situation was crucial.
Despite arriving promptly, Lochmann couldn’t locate the puppy immediately. In a last-minute decision, she turned into an alley, and that’s when she spotted the dog.
“I saw him there, lying in the road,” Lochmann recounted. It appeared that he was lying in water that had pooled in a gutter, likely trying to keep cool due to the intense heat.
As Lochmann approached, she could see the dire condition the dog was in.
“He must have heard me when I got to the end of the alley,” Lochmann shared. “I saw him lift his head, look around briefly, and then plop his head back down on the curb, as if he had given up.”
Seeing the dog lying alone on the street, defeated and without hope, deeply affected Lochmann’s heart.
“It just broke my heart,” Lochmann admitted. “There was no way I was leaving this dog here, I told myself.”
Here’s a video of Lochmann’s first sighting of the puppy:
Fortunately for Lochmann, the mistreated dog showed no hesitation in being rescued. He walked over to her jeep even without a leash.
“Come on, buddy, we’re going to help you,” I reassured him as I spoke.
Upon entering the vehicle, the pup quickly made himself comfortable.
As soon as he got in, he lay down, taking advantage of the blankets Lochmann had placed in the back of the jeep. He seemed to really appreciate the air conditioning and the cozy setting.
The affectionate dog, later named Curby, thoroughly enjoyed his “freedom ride” to safety, as the shelter described it.
He was soon taken to a foster family, according to Lochmann. “After watching his video, a couple told the husband, ‘That puppy should not stay in a shelter.'” They came and adopted him.
Curby is now relishing his new foster home, where he has two loving parents and a canine sibling he enjoys cuddling with. In his new environment, he’s finally starting to gain weight, and his true personality is shining through.
“He has the most dedicated foster parents,” Lochmann mentioned. “He has proven to be the sweetest boy ever,” she added.