Abandoned Pit Bull Waited Weeks In Forest For A Miracle

Finding a frightened, malnourished puppy in the middle of nowhere is a nightmare for any dog lover, especially if it's a helpless pup that has no idea how to take care of itself yet.

A pit bull named Hank was abandoned in the woods when he was just eight months old. It is uncertain whether his previous owners tried to ease their conscience by leaving Hank behind with his belongings and an unopened food bag (which he could not open himself), but either way, they failed.

Fortunately, the good in the world has ensured that Hank's story has a positive ending.

Heartbreaking encounter

In a Florida forest, a man found a touching scene that made him feel empathy. A puppy, apparently abandoned, sat motionless on its dog bed, unfazed by the approach of its unexpected rescuer.

As the onlooker got closer, several clues pointed to the puppy's fate. Next to him was a bag of dog food and a collection of toys, reminders of a former home. But the bag was closed and the dog could not open it.

The rescuer was most concerned about the pup's lack of response. He sat there silently, impervious to all attempts at communication, looking like a living statue.

The man, faced with the mystery of the origin of the abandoned dog and the identity of those who had abandoned him, understood one thing with unwavering certainty - the puppy's eyes told a story of broken innocence.

Given the dog's fragile condition and lack of response, he decided not to disturb him, but instead contacted a local animal shelter so the quiet, suffering soul could be safely rescued.

A glimmer of hope

After spending two weeks in the woods, Hank finally got help from shelter staff who immediately responded to his call.

They approached him cautiously, fearing Hank would become hostile toward people because of the situation he was in. But once they were with him, Hank showed nothing but gratitude and love for his rescuers.

Rosa Fond, owner of Humans and Animals United, told The Dodo that Hank was one of the cutest and most loving dogs they had ever seen, which was why he quickly captured the hearts of all the staff at the shelter.

He knew that the people who approached him were there to save him, so he tried to show how grateful he was for their act of kindness.

The 'living statue' mystery solved

After examination by a veterinarian, it finally became clear why the puppy was not moving when Good Samaritan and shelter staff approached him - he had a broken leg.

The veterinarian believed the injury to his paw was at least two weeks old, meaning he may have suffered it before he was abandoned. There were no other visible signs of violence, so it is not clear if the dog had been mistreated before it was abandoned in the woods.

One thing was certain - Hank needed leg surgery as soon as possible, and Fond didn't think twice about taking on all the costs of treatment.

But Hank was not a good candidate for the surgery because he was malnourished, so they had to wait a little longer for him to gain some weight.

In the meantime, the dog received many hugs, kisses and cuddles from the vet's staff who just couldn't get enough of him.

After surgery, Hank was placed in a foster home where he spent the best days of his life.

Although there were many requests to adopt this beautiful dog, Fond thinks it would be better for him to fully recover before placing him in a new family.

"He still has to go through quite a journey before he is fully adoptable. But he is safe now and will never be hurt again."