You wouldn’t predict that your morning commute could evolve into a life-saving adventure, yet that’s precisely what happened for Malissa Sergent Lewis!
This compassionate individual from Harlan, Kentucky, took a different route on her way to work when she encountered an unusual sight—a moving garbage bag! Unable to ignore her instincts, Malissa decided to pull over and investigate, a choice that would prove to be life-changing.
A Shocking Surprise
Malissa was on a faster path to Kentucky Elementary School when the strange bag caught her eye from afar. “I took a different route, a little bit quicker, a little back road. And as I’m coming down the road, in the distance, I can see a garbage bag moving,” she recounted to The Dodo. Curiosity piqued, she couldn’t resist pulling over to see what was happening.
The bag was tied, yet it was clear that something alive was struggling to escape. With renewed courage, she tore the bag open, revealing a small black puppy looking back at her. “I could see something was alive inside the bag. When I looked inside of it, it was just a little puppy that looked up,” she said.
Malissa quickly took the fragile puppy out, ensuring it was unharmed. To her astonishment, the puppy was completely unscathed and displayed a friendly demeanor from the moment she rescued him. He couldn’t stop wagging his tail, as if trying to express his gratitude to his unexpected savior.
The Unexpected Road To A Furever Home
Malissa and the puppy, who she named Hefty, formed an instant bond that day. After rescuing him, she took him to the vet for a health check and shared his story on Facebook, hoping to find his original owners. Unfortunately, no one came forward.
Malissa was uncertain whether Hefty had been abandoned by an uncaring owner or stolen and left in the bag, but regardless, it was evident that this act had been intentional. What truly mattered, however, was that Hefty found the right person—Malissa chose to keep him for good.
Malissa firmly believes that fate brought her and Hefty together. Her decision to take a different route that day led her to discover the puppy struggling for life in that bag—a miracle she will always remember.
“I absolutely think it was meant to be. It was meant to be for him and meant to be for us too. I feel fortunate that I was there at the right time and at the right place,” says Malissa.
Now, Hefty has left his troubled past behind. He revels in everyday moments with Malissa and his new family, living a life filled with happiness and love! Once merely an abandoned puppy in a trash bag, Hefty now enjoys the life he always deserved!
