In the United States, what started as a routine operation turned into a rescue mission at an impound lot in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
As reported by The Dodo, the team at Absolute Towing and Recovery had towed an abandoned Jeep from a public road.
At first glance, nothing set this SUV apart from the other vehicles crammed into the lot. The car sat there, untouched, until a scheduled crushing prompted employees to prepare it.
A shocking discovery
When they opened the car door, they first found items suggesting someone had been living inside: a piece of fabric tied to the driver's seat, blankets, and a box. But it was in the back of the car that they made a truly shocking discovery: a small, weak dog, curled up but still able to wag its tail.
The little dog, later named Otto, a Chihuahua-Dachshund cross, had managed to survive on a little water and a few scraps of food left in the car. Weakened by the ordeal, she was suffering from multiple health problems, including overgrown nails and poor dental health.
A new beginning for Otto
The employees immediately alerted Pet Haven, a charity that specialises in caring for and rehoming animals in distress.
In the following days, Otto received intensive veterinary care before being placed with a foster family. According to Kerry D’Amato, the executive director of Pet Haven, the little dog "adapted quickly" and is even starting to interact with the other dogs in the home.
Otto is still recovering but should soon be ready for the adoption programme.
