Puppy Found Shaking, Covered in Ticks After Being Abandoned in Texas Storm
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
In the midst of a Texas storm last week, a tiny trembling puppy was found clinging onto life, left in an onion sack, shivering and covered in ticks.
Named Slugger, the puppy who is estimated to be around 10 weeks old, was discovered near a Dallas park by Animal Control officers after a call came in about a stray sighting. What led them to him wasn't a sound or a bark, but a purple flag fluttering in the wind.
"It was pure luck," Patti Dawson of Dallas Dog Rescue Rehab Reform (Dallas Dog RRR), the rescue now overseeing Slugger's care, told Newsweek. "Erica looked closer and saw him crouched in a flooded field, shivering, covered in ticks, and sitting on an onion sack. He never tried to run. He just waited."
Slugger was in a poor condition when he was found, believed to have been abandoned, there were no signs of a mother or siblings.
Rescue staff believe he'd likely survived by eating plastic, dirt and trash, while his eyes were sealed with infection and skin was raw and patchy from flea bites.
Pictures of Slugger, the puppy who was found abandoned during a storm in Texas last week.
Pictures of Slugger, the puppy who was found abandoned during a storm in Texas last week.
Dallas Dog Rescue.Rehab.Reform / Facebook
"He had to be stabilized in an incubator for warmth and monitoring," Dawson said. "It's sadly common for people to abandon puppies near public areas where they hope someone might find them."
In 2024, approximately 7 million animals entered U.S. shelters and rescues, according to Shelter Animals Count—an increase of nearly 3 percent from 2023.
Now under the care of a foster, a nurse based in South Texas, Slugger is slowly responding to antibiotics, de-wormers, and round-the-clock care. His eyes have cleared, and his appetite is growing. Though his road to healing has begun.
In a post on Facebook, Dallas Dog RRR shared how Slugger was found in the heartbreaking state. The story quickly gained attention as people reacted.
"I'm literally crying while reading his post and looking at his picture," said Facebook user Salina. "Why are humans so unfair to animals."
While Sophia wrote: "So heart breaking so unfair. It's so wrong what dogs have to endure. He went through so much and he shouldn't have to be that brave."
"Thank you for rescuing this pup and giving him a new start," said Eliana. "God bless you all."
Once he has been medically cleared, Slugger will eventually be available for adoption.
"He will absolutely be looking for a forever home," Dawson said.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
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