Dog was near death when children found him — and became heroes. Meet Sweetness

Miami Herald

12-02-2025

A dying dog has a group of heroic children to thank for his life after he was spotted behind a building in Washington, D.C.
Sweetness, a loving dog with soulful eyes, is on the road to recovery after being discovered by some children who were going through their own loss, the Brandywine Valley SPCA said in a Feb. 12 Facebook post.
'Alone, starving, and too weak to stand, Sweetness was near death when a group of kids found him lying on the ground behind their apartment building,' the shelter said.
'The kids had recently lost their family dog and wanted to help, so they carried Sweetness to their home. When their mother arrived home from work, she quickly recognized how serious Sweetness' condition was and called us for help.'
Sweetness was able to make his way to the Veterinary Emergency Group thanks to the responding animal control officer who was called to the scene.
'Sweetness was emaciated, dehydrated, and suffering from severe and painful sores on both of his front legs,' the shelter said. 'It's not clear how long he's been on his own, but Sweetness is now stable and being fostered by a dedicated BVSPCA staff member, who can provide him with continued medical care and a loving home to rest while he heals.'
Sweetness is not available for adoption and is 'just beginning' his road to recovery, the shelter noted.
'We are grateful to the quick-thinking and caring kids and their mom, who rescued Sweetness and called for help, as well as our friends at the Veterinary Emergency Group for providing critical emergency care,' the shelter said.
For more information on Sweetness and other animals in need, visit the shelter's website.