Donna Lochmann, principal life-saving officer with Stray Rescue of St. Louis (SRSL), is a passionate animal enthusiast who has successfully handled hundreds of rescues.
She often would hop into her vehicle and navigate through St. Louis, searching for neglected or injured animals needing her assistance. Additionally, she received numerous calls alerting her to furry companions in distress.
Thus, the moment a call indicated that a dog was concealed in garbage below a busy overpass, she quickly set off to help.
Assistance Is On The Horizon
The caller mentioned that they had traveled that route multiple times over the past few days and consistently spotted this pup.
Nevertheless, upon Lochmann’s arrival, she could not find the dog.
Fortunately, she opted to linger for a while and wait for him, and then, unexpectedly, she sensed some unusual sounds emanating from a heap of trash.
Upon nearing it, she discovered a tiny, charming face peeking out, gazing at her with curiosity.
Lochmann observed that the pup was slightly hesitant about her presence – should he submit or should he flee?
This led the steadfast rescuer to gradually approach him while speaking with a soothing tone and offering him some delectable food to build his trust.
Although the pup, later named Gibson, was hesitant to accept the food, he permitted Lochmann to stroke him, giving her the ideal chance to slide a leash around his neck.
Even though it took him a little while to muster the bravery to rise and accompany her to her vehicle, Gibson ultimately did so.
A Novel Chapter
His journey back to the St. Louis shelter was seamless, and Gibson received a delightful, warm bath along with appetizing food to satisfy his hunger.
Fortunately, due to his sweet demeanor and good nature, an animal enthusiast spotted him and provided a loving and nurturing foster home.
Gibson adapted to his new environment incredibly quickly and was eager to start a new chapter in his journey.
As reported by Forbes, 6.3 million creatures enter shelters across the United States each year, resulting in overpopulation in most facilities, and Stray Rescue of St. Louis is no exception.
“Regrettably, we must initiate another rescue freeze. We enjoyed our time on the streets this week, but more animals are entering than are leaving. It’s not something we wish to do; we’ve been battling it. Yet, we must express it because it’s the reality,” the shelter communicated in a Facebook update.
Therefore, I would like to seize this moment to encourage individuals to visit their local shelters and lend a helping hand – if not with permanent adoptions, then at least by fostering.
This will support the shelter personnel and the animals, demonstrating to them that they indeed deserve affection!