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Three-Legged Foster Dog Found Covered in Scars, the Reason Breaks Hearts

Three-Legged Foster Dog Found Covered in Scars, the Reason Breaks Hearts

Newsweek25-07-2025
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
After months of fostering a street dog from Mexico, a woman was left in tears after learning the horrifying reality of where the scars on his body came from.
Last summer, Alyssa Blackwell Hammond, 36, fostered a litter of puppies who got sick with canine parvovirus and almost died. It was such a challenging time, and once they had been nursed back to health, Hammond vowed to take some time away from fostering. Months later, she came across a photo of Tripp, a Tijuana mutt, and everything changed.
Hammond, of San Diego, California, told Newsweek that he immediately "struck this place in [her] heart." Tripp was saved from the streets of Mexico and is thought to be around 3 years old. He was emaciated, had a leg amputated after being hit by a car, and was covered in scars.
At the start of 2025, Hammond fostered Tripp and gave him a loving home when he needed it most.
"He's so appreciative to have a home," Hammond said. "There's nothing like a dog who went without food, water, a home, and a warm bed because they just love to snuggle. He was just in awe of having anything. Watching his evolution makes me emotional."
From left: A tearful Alyssa Blackwell Hammond holds Tripp the foster dog indoors.
From left: A tearful Alyssa Blackwell Hammond holds Tripp the foster dog indoors.
@dogfostering101 / TikTok
Having fostered 41 dogs, Hammond started documenting her experiences on social media (@dogfostering101 on TikTok and Instagram). Indeed, after sharing videos of Tripp coming out of his shell, she was stunned to see a comment from the woman who found him on the streets.
Not much was known about Tripp's past, but, after connecting with his rescuer, Hammond finally learned about the dog's traumatic experience. She was informed that the scars all over Tripp's body were from a machete attack, leaving Hammond heartbroken.
"It was one thing knowing that he was hit by a car as I could mentally prepare myself for that. But to find out that this dog I loved as my own for seven months, that someone cut him all down his body, that affected me on a new level," Hammond continued.
Although the wounds have healed now, many of Tripp's scars are up to an inch wide, so Hammond said she wonders just how deep they must have been. She added that he was attacked by other dogs as he has additional scarring on his head.
Seeing Tripp learn to trust and grow in confidence has been so rewarding. It took him several days to realize he was safe, but he has made such incredible strides since being fostered.
It is important for Hammond to share every aspect of fostering on social media. After learning what Tripp went through as a street dog, she captured an emotional video of her processing the news.
Just like Hammond, internet users were distraught for Tripp, and the video has gone viral with over 1 million views and more than 165,200 likes on TikTok at the time of writing.
Hammond said: "I didn't think anyone cared about fostering and I didn't previously share the sad parts because there's enough sadness in the world. But what I realized is that people don't see this bond as sad. They see it as beautiful, and they're inspired by the connection we have.
"It restores my faith in humanity to see people care about this little being that they have nothing to do with. This random street dog that no one cared about seven months ago was dying in a ditch, and now there are people checking on him," she continued.
Following seven wonderful months with Hammond, Tripp has gone to his forever home. Fortunately, he has been adopted by a friend of a friend, so he will still be in Hammond's life.
It was so special to see the connection he shares with his new owner, and Hammond knew "they were meant to be together." Saying goodbye to Tripp was emotional, but she said she found solace in knowing that she played such an important role in his recovery.
Tripp has certainly left a mark on Hammond's heart, but she will continue to change lives through fostering. It remains such a necessary cause, with over 5.8 million cats and dogs winding up in U.S. shelters in 2024, according the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
While it was a happy ending for the 4.2 million shelter animals who were adopted, the same can't be said for the 607,000 animals who were euthanized last year.
Hammond said she hopes that stories like Tripp's will inspire others to consider fostering a pet who needs a second chance.
She added: "Places all over the world are in desperate need of fosters. And not just people who are willing to adopt, which is beautiful, but someone willing to love that dog short-term and be that safe space for them in between. If more people were willing to step up and love them for that period of time where they need someone, we could save so many animals."
The clip explaining where Tripp's scars came from has generated over 4,400 comments on TikTok so far. Internet users were devastated for him, while others thanked Hammond for opening her home to him.
One comment reads: "He will only know love from here on out. He will be the most spoiled baby."
Another TikTok user wrote: "And still this baby cuddles a human's neck soaking in love, willing to give the human race another chance."
A third person added: "Well, this shattered me. Thank you for loving him, he hit the jackpot."
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? We want to see the best ones! Send them in to life@newsweek.com and they could appear on our site.
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Hearts Melt at How Man Lets Senior Cat Know He Is Home
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