An alert came in for the Stray Rescue of St. Louis shelter. Staff at a local KFC restaurant were in shock. Someone had just abandoned a puppy in the establishment's toilets. Donna Lochmann, the shelter manager, rushed to the scene. She was taken to the kitchen, where the small animal had been brought to safety.
It was a heartbreaking sight. The puppy was emaciated and trembling all over. He was huddled at the bottom of a large cardboard box. No one knew how he got there or how long he had been suffering. For the rescuers, seeing an animal in such a neglected state was truly heartbreaking.
A shocking diagnosis
The puppy, named Drummy, was rushed to the treatment centre. He immediately received fluids and food to stabilise his condition. Spencer Thomson, a member of the shelter, decided to foster him. He then carried out a DNA test that would reveal a frightening truth about the dog's past.
Drummy is an American Bully, which is not a small breed. Yet, at 5 months old, he weighed only 4.8 pounds. "For him to still be alive at this age, weighing so little, is an absolute miracle," said Spencer. This confirmed the extent of the neglect the puppy had suffered. He had spent the first few months of his life deprived of everything.
A godsend of a surrogate mum
At Spencer's home, the miracle continued. One of his own dogs, who had just finished raising her litter, immediately adopted the newcomer. She licked him, snuggled up to him, and watched over him as he slept. Thanks to this unexpected motherly love, Drummy regained his strength. He began to explore the house and even climb the stairs.
His happy and playful personality eventually won over his foster family. Spencer couldn't bring himself to let him go and officially decided to adopt Drummy. Today, the KFC survivor has left his trauma behind him. He is now part of a loving home where he will never go hungry again.
