“We would have NEVER found him without the FLIR camera!”
At the start of last year, the staff at Stray Rescue of St. Louis (SRSL) launched a fundraiser to purchase a crucial piece of equipment for their rescue missions: a FLIR thermal imaging camera. With winter still in full force and the days growing shorter, they knew this infrared camera would make it easier to spot and save animals in need during the dark, cold months.
Thanks to the generous contributions from their supporters, SRSL was able to raise enough money to purchase the FLIR camera just in time for an urgent rescue call. On a chilly evening in March, a truck driver stopped for a break at a park and noticed a puppy abandoned on top of a trash can as the sun set. The truck driver immediately called for help, and SRSL was soon on the way.
When Donna Lochmann, SRSL’s chief life-saving officer, arrived at the park, it was already pitch black. The puppy was no longer on the trash can, and the area was shrouded in darkness. Armed with a flashlight, leash, and high-value treats, Lochmann began searching. But this time, instead of using her flashlight, she reached for the newly acquired FLIR camera.
As Lochmann scanned the park, she noticed a small orange-and-yellow shape on the screen, nestled in the woods. The FLIR camera had led her straight to the hidden puppy. Without it, SRSL believes the puppy would have been impossible to locate.
“We would have NEVER found him without the FLIR camera!” SRSL wrote on social media. “Thanks to everyone who contributed, he now has a fighting chance.”
Lochmann gently scooped up the tiny tan puppy from his cold hiding spot and carried him to her Jeep. He was immediately taken to SRSL’s veterinary clinic, where he was diagnosed with a severe case of parvo, a potentially deadly virus that can dehydrate and weaken puppies rapidly. Despite the grim diagnosis, the veterinary team was determined to help him pull through.
The puppy, later named Flir in honor of the camera that saved him, faced a long road to recovery. After several weeks of treatment and isolation, Flir began to regain his strength, slowly gaining weight and becoming more active. His transformation was nothing short of miraculous, with the staff at SRSL referring to him as their “miracle boy.”
By the end of the month, Flir was healthy enough to be placed into foster care, and the staff couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride as he left the clinic. “His life begins today,” SRSL wrote on social media, knowing that Flir’s future was looking brighter.
During his time in foster care, Flir thrived and soon became the talk of the town. He was adored by his foster family, and it wasn’t long before Stephanie Meyer Schmitz inquired about adopting him. The adoption process moved quickly, and soon enough, Flir found his forever home.
“I would like everyone to meet the newest addition to the Schmitz family: Oliver Flir Schmitz!!!” Stephanie proudly posted online. “My sweet little man, you are home with a family who loves you, who will protect you and cherish you!!”
Now named Oliver, the once-ailing puppy was living a life full of love and adventure. He spent his days playing outdoors, cuddling on the couch with his new family, and celebrating special moments, including birthdays. As Oliver grew, so did his playful and mischievous personality, much to the delight of his adoptive parents.
“Little Man (as we like to call him) is full of life and mischief,” Stephanie wrote. “He is the typical puppy, and we love him to pieces…”
But Oliver’s story didn’t end there. After settling into his new home, Oliver’s family realized that he could use a playmate. Enter Poppy, the newest member of the Schmitz family.
“Please welcome the newest member to the Schmitz family: Miss Poppy, [Oliver’s] baby sister!” Stephanie posted. “Both our fur babies were saved by SRSL, and we can’t imagine our family without them!”
Oliver welcomed Poppy with open paws, and the two quickly became inseparable. Once a tiny, sick puppy struggling to survive in a dark park, Oliver was now living the dream life with a family who adored him and a companion to share it all with.
SRSL was thrilled to see how far Oliver had come and couldn’t be happier for him. “Not only did this brave little puppy survive, but he grew up to be a big, handsome boy!” they wrote. “He’s living a beautiful life.”
And thanks to the support of countless generous people, Oliver—formerly known as Flir—had the chance to start over and live a life full of love, adventure, and joy.