While going about her daily routine at home, devoted animal lover Sabrina Garcia stumbled upon a small furry invader—a charming mouse that had made its way into her residence, enjoying the treasures inside.
Though not seeking a pet, Sabrina quickly decided to liberate the little creature, taking him outside in search of a safe release spot. Her attention was drawn to a sewer drain, which seemed a fitting place for him, only to discover that someone else was already there.
Rescue Mission
A pair of bright, anxious eyes was gazing back at her—belonging to a pup that had found refuge in the sewer, hidden away from the world above. Without hesitation, Garcia reached out to Suzette Hall, founder of a rescue organization in Irvine, California.
“They couldn’t believe their eyes when they looked down and saw him. [H]e couldn’t even cry for help because nobody would [have] heard him,” Hall shared on Facebook.
Naming the pup Donatello, Hall and her volunteers set out to uncover how he ended up in the sewer in the first place. After some searching, they discovered a small opening, too narrow for Donatello to have entered alone, leading them to conclude that someone had to have placed him there.
“There was no way he got down there by himself. Someone had to put him there!” Hall remarked.
This alarming realization intensified the rescuers’ determination to bring him to safety. Eventually, they located a manhole cover that revealed a ladder—precisely what they needed to rescue Donatello.
Two of the rescuers climbed down, and after a short while, they emerged with Donatello safely in their arms.
“We did it! He was and is nothing short of a miracle,” Hall excitedly stated.
Road To Recovery
The rescue team quickly transported Donatello to Camino Pet Hospital. After enduring so much, he finally fell asleep in the arms of his rescuers, feeling safe at last.
The Irvine hospital staff conducted a thorough examination and discovered that Donatello had been surviving by eating trash, with a small towel lodged in his intestines. Hall noted, “He was so hungry, he ate whatever he could. He would have died down [there].” This painful truth highlighted the urgency of his rescue.
Although Donatello’s condition was precarious, a compassionate team of medical professionals ensured he received essential care, including emergency surgery, which led to a promising recovery. Despite the journey ahead to regain his confidence, his new family is committed to showering him with love and warm cuddles to expedite his healing.
With one more surgery ahead, Donatello is eager to embrace a joyful life in a warm, loving home. Until then, his temporary family is dedicated to helping him shed his anxiety, nurturing him back to the confident pup he once was. “[H]e is worth it. It’s time he learns what love is,” Hall expressed on Facebook.
