Winters in St. Louis, Missouri, can be extremely harsh, with temperatures dropping dangerously low, posing a serious threat to stray animals. The dedicated team at Stray Rescue of St. Louis (SRSL) works tirelessly to search the city for dogs in distress, particularly during the frigid January days. During one of their searches, they arrived at an abandoned house. Upon closer inspection, they found a little dog left behind, urgently needing their help. Their hearts broke when they discovered the forgotten family member chained to a doghouse filled with frozen water in the backyard.
The dog was curled up on the grass, shivering in the cold. “The cold wind howled, and the cold hurt after being outside for just a few moments. The callousness of this act alone gives us chills,” Stray Rescue of St. Louis shared on Facebook.
Donna Lochmann, one of the compassionate SRSL rescuers, was heartbroken to see the dog abandoned like this. “Why someone felt you deserved to suffer with that huge chain is one of the world’s greatest mysteries. You’re free,” SRSL wrote.
The dog, affectionately named Eskimo Joe, immediately knew the rescuers were there to save him when he saw them approaching. He greeted Donna with a wagging tail and pressed against her as they used bolt cutters to free him. Eskimo Joe had endured a lot, surviving without water and food, but his hardship was finally over thanks to the kind efforts of SRSL. Donna lifted him into her warm Jeep. “He stared at Donna during his freedom ride and loved the heated seats,” Stray Rescue of St. Louis wrote.
After his rescue, Eskimo Joe met the veterinary team, who performed a thorough checkup. Unfortunately, he tested positive for heartworms, but it’s a condition treatable with the right medication.
Despite a history of violent behavior towards animals – including a widely circulated video showing his pit bull brutally mauling a helpless cat – this individual continued to harm animals without earlier intervention from law enforcement.
The rescue team quickly noticed that Eskimo Joe was a kind and gentle dog, which helped him find the perfect foster home swiftly. Eskimo Joe already looks completely different from when he was found chained behind the abandoned house. His foster mom told SRSL, “He is the most gentle soul I have ever met. He is crate trained, potty trained, and loves to go for walks. He is a polite boy, he sits for food/treats, loves a good chin scratch, and has quickly become a cuddly couch buddy.”
Although Eskimo Joe is still looking for a forever home, he is enjoying all the cuddles and love from his wonderful foster family. There’s no doubt that his forever home is just around the corner.
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