Residents of the American city of St. Louis found this dog in their yard. She had wandered in, crouched in a corner, and wouldn’t move. The dog was skinny, dirty, with damaged skin, and covered in fleas – he was in great need of help. The people put the dog in a box and immediately contacted rescuers.

“She was in really bad shape when I got there,” Donna Lochmann, chief life-saving officer at Stray Rescue of St. Louis, told The Dodo. “I really don’t think she would’ve lasted much longer.”

Volunteers from Stray Rescue of St. Louis came to rescue the poor thing. They were horrified by the dog’s condition and immediately began helping her. It turned out that she couldn’t even stand on her paws due to her weakness and anemia. After the bath, they put her in a cozy enclosure where she fell asleep on blankets and under drips.

“We wanted her to enjoy some fresh air,” Lochmann said. “And she really loved spending time with us out there.”
The dog was named Annie. Within a few days of treatment, she began to look and feel better – her skin had healed and she had the strength to move on. At the same time, the dog was still kept in a special oxygen chamber to maintain the condition of his lungs.

“That’s when she finally started acting like a dog,” Lochmann said. “She started making friends with other dogs and absolutely loved playing with them.”
As time passed, Annie grew stronger and her health recovered. She was moved to an enclosure where she could go outside and play with other dogs.
Now Annie is already in the care of a volunteer and is doing fine. The shelter staff is proud of her. Despite the challenges, this brave dog has come a long way. They are already looking for permanent owners for her. Be happy, Annie!

“We’re really grateful that that family saw her [in their yard], because she turned out to be a really great dog,” Lochmann said. “We just adore her!”