A Fearful Puppy Finds Healing After the Heavy Weight of His Past Is Removed

Not long ago, animal control officers discovered a small, frightened puppy in the woods. He was tethered to a tree by a large leather strap and a chain. The poor pup was emaciated and terrified. Based on the surroundings, it seemed as though someone had deliberately left him there, with no food or water, likely intending for him to perish.

“When we found him, we were certain his previous life had been filled with unimaginable suffering,” said Courtney Bellew, Director of Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation at Snarr.

The puppy, whom they named Stewart, was brought to a shelter. The first few days for any rescued animal are typically difficult, but for Stewart, the situation was particularly heartbreaking. He spent nearly every moment cowering in a corner.

“He didn’t want anyone near him. He was hiding, visibly scared,” said one of the shelter workers.

Every time someone attempted to approach him, Stewart would retreat, growling and hiding his face. His behavior was a clear sign that he had endured significant trauma. The most alarming thing was that no one could remove the heavy leather collar from around his neck because he was so terrified.

“Stewart was so fearful of our presence that we decided to give him some space to calm down,” said Rebecca Rood, one of the volunteers.

For a puppy like Stewart, finding a permanent home seemed like a distant hope. However, the shelter staff was determined to help him. Despite their best efforts to make him comfortable, nothing seemed to work. Stewart wasn’t eating and still wouldn’t allow anyone to get close enough to take him to the vet.

That’s when Courtney made the decision to sedate him, allowing the vet to perform a series of tests and give him the necessary treatments to begin rebuilding his strength. While Stewart was sedated, Courtney saw the opportunity to finally remove that dreadful collar.

When Stewart woke up and felt the weight of his past lifted, his demeanor changed dramatically. For the first time, he looked at the volunteers and even seemed ready to interact with them.

“That collar was a heavy burden from his past. Once it was gone, he started to open up, even wagging his tail,” Courtney recalled.

Though Stewart’s journey has been long and heartbreaking, he is now on the path to healing. No one knows exactly what he endured to become so fearful, but each moment of kindness from his rescuers is helping him move past his painful history.

Please share this story to remind everyone that every pup deserves a second chance at life.