For days, a small white puppy sat helpless in a roadside ditch, frightened and alone, trying to understand why she had been left behind.
She was hungry, in pain, and clinging to what little hope she had left.
“Why did you get me if you weren’t going to love me? Why am I hungry? Why am I in a ditch? Why is everything hurting… Why?”
Questions without answers. But none of that mattered once she chose to trust one kind voice that stopped to help her. That single act of faith changed her life.
A Desperate Plea For Help
While walking along a quiet road in North Carolina, Margaret Hamilton, founder of Ruby and Laurel Animal Rescue, Inc., noticed something unusual. A small white shape was barely visible in the ditch beside her.
She stopped immediately.
As she knelt down to look closer, a strong odor from the puppy’s mangy, infected skin filled the air. The sight broke her heart.
The little dog was in terrible shape, her body covered in sores and her spirit clearly fading.
By pure luck, a rescuer was the one to find her.
“This baby has seen the worst of humans, but still belly crawled out of the ditch and into my arms. She goes in first thing tomorrow for medical treatment and vaccines,” Margaret shared on TikTok.
Despite the pain and fear, the puppy summoned her last bit of strength, crawling toward compassion. The moment Margaret lifted her up, the puppy melted into her arms, as if she finally understood that she was safe.
Back at Margaret’s home, the first step toward healing began. She carefully trimmed the puppy’s overgrown nails and gave her a gentle medicated bath to soothe her raw, sunburned skin.
Steps Toward Recovery
The next morning, Margaret brought the little one to the vet for a full check-up. Thankfully, she tested negative for heartworm. Though estimated to be around three years old, she was so undernourished that she still looked like a young pup.
Her condition told the story of neglect and hardship.
Margaret decided to name her Slurpee.
In just a few days, Slurpee began to change. Her eyes brightened, her tail started to wag, and a spark of joy returned to her gentle personality.
“Slurpee is feeling better by the day and we are already seeing improvements on her skin condition. Demodectic mange looks scary but is not contagious,” Margaret updated.
Medical Update! Slurpee is approximately 3 years old and is heartworm NEGATIVE! Happy happy happy dance!
Now, Slurpee is safe, loved, and continuing to recover. With a few more weeks of care, her skin will heal, her strength will return, and her past will become nothing more than a distant memory.
Sweet girl, your brighter days have only just begun.Those who wish to support Slurpee’s recovery and help other dogs like her can donate through the rescue’s GoFundMe page and make a difference for more lives in need.
