Some might argue that the neglect of vulnerable animals has entirely spiraled out of control. Upon hearing this heartbreaking narrative, I can only concur with this perspective.
On a stunning sunny day in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, a woman stepped onto her porch totally oblivious to the dreadful scene awaiting her.
Right there on her porch lay a cardboard box, presumably left by someone. Upon further inspection and to her astonishment, she found a fluffy white dog inside.
The unfortunate dog was in dreadful shape, motionless, and, tragically, he seemed to be lifeless.
The Lifeless Dog In A Box
In a state of panic and uncertain about what action to take, she quickly contacted her daughter, Janine Guido, the founder of Speranza Animal Rescue in Pennsylvania.
“I received a call mid-morning. It was my Mom, who seldom calls; we typically communicate via text. Thus, I sensed something was amiss. When I picked up the phone, my suspicion was validated,” Janine recounted in a social media post.
On the other end was her mother, completely frantic and weeping about a ‘lifeless’ dog that someone had placed in a box and left on her porch.
Janine immediately abandoned her tasks and hurried to the farm where her mom resided. However, she couldn’t cease pondering why someone would leave an already deceased dog.
Promptly, she called her mother back and requested her to see if the dog was breathing…
“Turns out this boy wasn’t [deceased]; he was merely unconscious. At that moment I recognized it was a race against time,” Janine stated. “A lifeless dog. Completely limp. I scooped him up and dashed him to our usual veterinarian.”
It was a mixed-breed dog scarcely a year old – still in infancy.
His health was dire – severely emaciated, matted, and smeared with excrement and urine.
His pupils were cloudy, and during the ride to the vet, he even began to have seizures. No one anticipated his survival, yet miracles can occur.
Defying The Odds
Once in veterinary care, the dog – whom Janine named G.I. Joe – was administered IV fluids and seizure treatments.
His state was critical, yet within days, he began to show signs of improvement.
After a few days, he was up and walking (albeit unsteady) and eating independently.
Everyone was astonished that it was the very same dog who had been discovered unresponsive just days earlier.
His health rapidly enhanced, and after being released from the clinic, G.I. Joe went straight to his foster home with Karen Spangler.
Karen is an exceptional foster mother with experience caring for epileptic dogs. She also has two other dogs – one of whom is blind just like G.I. Joe.
“GI Joe (Joey) is thriving. Taking one step at a time. Working on potty training and he is making excellent progress. He has started jumping up occasionally so we are addressing that and the “no.” He does seem to see some, likely shadows. He has a remarkable sense of smell. He wags his tail frequently. Given the condition he was in, he is doing magnificently,” Speranza Animal Rescue shared an update from Karen on their Facebook page.
A Fantastic Foster Fail
Even though Karen did not intend to adopt another dog, G.I. Joe (or Joey, as she affectionately calls him) captured her heart almost instantly.
“I didn’t want another permanent dog added to my family. I informed multiple friends and family that I would not become a foster failure,” Karen shared with The Dodo.
This temporary arrangement swiftly transformed into a lasting one.
The lovely rescue pup formed such a strong bond with Karen, her grandchildren, and her other dogs that she couldn’t bear to make him go through the adoption process again.
This was the only just decision, as Karen now simply couldn’t envision her life without this little furry companion who overcame all obstacles and blossomed into a joyful little dog.
“They always say that things occur for a reason, and this is absolutely true. My family needed Joey. Never in a million years did I believe he would become so affectionate and intelligent. I look forward to seeing the journey ahead of us,” Karen expressed.