Upon hearing about a lost pup wandering alone in the woods, a team from Stray Rescue of St. Louis quickly gathered their gear and set off to the location, aware of the dangers posed by the cold and eerie woods. They brought along some delicious food for the starving dog.
Despite the vastness of the forest, the team searched tirelessly for hours without success. Just as they were about to give up, they spotted a small gray ball nestled among the dried leaves. The rescuers immediately understood this was their purpose for coming. However, upon seeing the team, the frightened pup was a bit startled, surrounded by unfamiliar faces.
You Are Safe Now, Sweet Boy
Fortunately, one of the rescuers took out a tasty treat and slowly approached the pup, offering it to him. As soon as he caught a whiff of the food, he eagerly devoured it, finally satisfying his hungry stomach. This small act of kindness helped him muster the courage to stand and follow the kind-hearted rescuers. However, they soon noticed a serious issue—he had a wound on his leg and was so emaciated that his bones were visible through his skin.
Despite these alarming conditions, a more pressing matter arose: they needed to return home quickly before night fell, making navigation even more dangerous.
A Little Problem
As they started their journey back, they faced another challenge—the pup was too frightened to leave the woods. To encourage him, one rescuer picked him up and carried him to a clear path. Once there, he was ready to walk on his own, but another problem arose: their car was parked a mile away. With exhaustion overtaking him, the pup couldn’t walk far, yet the rescuers were more than willing to help, carrying him the entire way.
Even with the sun setting, the team managed to reach their car before it became completely dark. Their next task was to transport the pup, now named Matlock, to the clinic for necessary medical attention. He was finally safe after a harrowing ordeal.
“He had the best night’s sleep he’s had in a very long time. He is not out of the woods and will have to fight for his life. His body weight is at a dangerous level for his size, but he’s in the right place. He’s very sweet and very safe. You got this buddy,” the rescue shared on their Facebook page.
Finally, this remarkable pup received the love and care he deserved all along. However, his recovery journey was just beginning, as medical tests revealed that his leg wound was, in fact, a tumor requiring immediate attention. To follow Matlock’s journey and support his recovery, please visit his page.
