A dog found nearly dead in a Florida store dumpster lived to get a home, just in time for Christmas.
Earlier this month in Lakeland, Florida, a Plant City strip mall employee was taking the trash out when she noticed that the contents of the dumpster were moving.
Before long, a dog’s face emerged from the rubble, and a team of rescuers jumped into action.
A Critical Situation
The pup was clinging onto life, and had to be rushed to SPCA Florida for emergency veterinary care, according to WFLA.
There, it was discovered that the dog (who was barely moving) had a deadly 107 degree fever, and he was actually put in an alcohol bath has an emergency tactic to lower the fever.
Many dogs would not survive a fever so high, but this dog was determined to live. It’s as if he knew a better life were in store for him, if he could just get past this nightmare.
In addition to his high fever and the inability to even lift his own head, it was discovered that the dog had pancreatitis and a gut full of indigestible debris. This was due to all the garbage he’d had to eat while living in the dumpster.
It is unknown how long the pup was living in these horrific conditions before he was found.
After the initial emergency care, the dog was put on IV treatments and medications for days, and fought for his life.
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SPCA Florida Safety Net Manager Connie Johnson said that she got emotional just looking at the dog, imagining how it must have felt to be thrown into a dumpster by his family and left to rot.
Johnson said she and her team were determined to do whatever it took to make it right for this pup.
A Christmas Miracle
Well, they did just that. Days before Christmas, the SPCA announced that the dog, who they appropriately named Chance, was available for adoption.
And hours later, he got sent home with a loving family, just in time for Christmas.
“From dumpster dog to family dog, Chance has found his forever humans!” wrote SPCA Florida.
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