Soft Whimpers Heard in Storm Drain, Rescuers Find Puppy So Weak He Can Barely Lift His Head
Picture the average puppy. You probably envision an adorable bundle of energy, romping around without a care in the world.
That’s quite often the case. But animal rescue organizations encounter a vastly different reality, every single day.
A puppy named Leo is one such example. And the beginning of this sweet canine’s story may very well bring you to tears.
The ending, thankfully, is nothing short of miraculous. But a determined Leo walked a very tough road to get there.
A video posted by Animal Aid Unlimited outlines the troubling scenario. “We received an urgent call on our helpline reporting a puppy who had been heard crying from within a closed sewage gutter,” the caption reads.
Concerned rescuers hurried to the scene. They encountered a heavy cement slab concealing a gutter area, and heard feeble whimpers coming from underneath.
Two men managed to lift the weighty slab out of the way. What they found might be too distressing for some viewers to witness.
It was the emaciated young canine they later named Leo. He seemed to be drawing his final breaths.
Leo was sprawled weakly in the murky water. Shaking and panting, he tried to look up when his rescuers peered over the side of the enclosure.
But this poor pooch was far too frail and feeble to hold his head upright. In fact, his nose kept dropping down into the dirty water as humans worked to free him.
One rescuer spread out a soft blanket on the hard-packed dirt. Then he gently reached down, and scooped a skin-and-bones Leo out of his shadowy prison.
Leo was rushed back to the shelter for emergency intervention. Thankfully, he was free of open wounds and fractures.
But veterinarians discovered that Leo was struggling with severe neurological issues. They suspected that at some point, he may have been forcefully struck on the head.
During his initial medical treatment, Leo slept almost non-stop for several days. When he finally woke up, he’d wander in circles before falling down, sometimes having seizures.
But rescuers just wouldn’t give up on Leo. They gradually helped him learn to regain his balance, and reclaim a life filled with the constant TLC he deserved.
The Dodo shared a video showing the incredible results. These days, an overjoyed Leo is bright-eyed, cuddly, curious, and impressively steady on his feet.
It’s a memorable testament to the enduring power of love and encouragement. Leo is a courageously handsome hound through and through, and his patient rescuers are truly unsung heroes.
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