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Rescuing stray animals is no easy feat, but for Donna Lochmann, a veteran rescuer from Stray Rescue of St. Louis, Missouri, it’s a labor of love. After over 20 years of working with abandoned and fearful pets, she has seen it all. However, her encounter with a terrified Pitbull-mix on Valentine’s Day left an indelible mark on her heart.
The stray dog was rescued by a kind woman
It started with a call about a skittish street dog spotted in an industrial area. When Donna arrived on the scene, the dog, now known as Cutie Pie, was cowering in the corner, desperate to escape. “She was definitely looking for a way to get away from me, but there was no way out. She barked a couple of times, like a super-scared warning,” Donna recounted to The Dodo.
Undeterred, Donna approached slowly, tossing sausage pieces toward the trembling pup. To her surprise, the dog passed up the food and instead nuzzled her way into Donna’s shirt, rolling onto her back and gazing up at her rescuer with an expression of pure gratitude. “It was so sweet, the way she looked up at me as if she were saying, ‘Thank you!’” Donna marveled.
Even for a seasoned rescuer like Donna, this moment of trust and affection was unprecedented. “I knelt down so she didn’t feel so threatened and started talking to her. I tossed one sausage over to her, and she ate it,” Donna said. “But then she passed right by the other sausages. When she got to me, she nuzzled her head right in my shirt, then she rolled over and looked up at me.”
The positive transformation of a stray dog under the dedicated care of its new owner
Cutie Pie’s transformation from a terrified street dog to a loving companion was nothing short of remarkable. At the Stray Rescue facility, she received veterinary care, a refreshing bath, and a warm welcome from the staff and volunteers. “Everyone was in love with Cutie Pie and how sweet and loving she was. She came out of her shell almost instantly, and all it took was a little bit of love,” the rescue wrote on their Facebook page.
Now in a loving foster home, Cutie Pie has found the happiness and security she so desperately craved. “She curls up in her bed as well as her little foster dog brother’s bed. She has the biggest, sweetest smile, she loves zooming around the yard… she is one special soul with infectious joy,” the rescue team proudly shared.
Cutie Pie’s journey serves as a powerful reminder that even the most fearful and mistrustful animals can blossom with the right care and compassion. Her story is a testament to the transformative power of love, and it has undoubtedly touched the hearts of all who have had the privilege of witnessing her remarkable transformation.
