“He was skin and bones …” 😰
Early on the morning of November 8, 2024, a security guard in Detroit, Michigan, pulled into a gas station and was met with a heartbreaking sight.
Near a dumpster, he noticed a tiny puppy desperately picking through trash. The white-and-brown pit bull mix was painfully thin and completely on his own.
Liz Haack told The Dodo that the guard couldn’t bring himself to walk away.
“It was very cold, and there were no other dogs around,” she said. “So he gently picked the puppy up, placed him in a box and brought him along.”
Knowing that a coworker volunteered with an animal rescue, the guard took the puppy to work, where help was quickly arranged. Soon after, Rebel Dogs Detroit stepped in to care for the starving pup and shared his photo online in hopes of finding a foster home.
Haack, a veterinary technician and co-founder of Colony Cat Club Detroit, usually fosters kittens. But when she saw the puppy’s picture, she felt an instant pull.
“I didn’t hesitate,” she said. “Something told me I needed to help him.”
Once her foster application was approved, Haack rushed to meet the puppy, who was later named Joey. Seeing him in person was overwhelming.
“He was even smaller than I expected,” Haack said. “He weighed just 3 pounds and was about 5 weeks old. I almost cried holding him for the first time — I just wanted to protect him.”
When Joey arrived at her home, Haack quickly realized how close he’d come to tragedy.
“He was all skin and bones,” she said. “His belly was bloated from hunger and worms, and he was dehydrated and freezing. He wouldn’t have survived much longer outside.”
Thankfully, Joey was in capable hands. Haack immediately began treatment, providing fluids, deworming medication, warmth and small, frequent meals to stabilize his fragile body.
At first, Joey was weak, but he soon began to improve.
“After food and fluids, he perked up,” Haack shared. “He was just a baby — all he wanted was to sleep and be cuddled, and we gladly gave him that.”
Over the next several weeks, Joey’s transformation was remarkable. He gained weight, energy and confidence, and even formed a close bond with Haack’s 2-year-old golden retriever, who became his best friend.
Eventually, Joey was healthy enough to be adopted. But when the rescue mentioned potential adopters, Haack realized she couldn’t say goodbye.
“I cried all day,” she said. “Then I told the rescue I wanted to adopt him. I couldn’t imagine my life without him.”
Joey officially became part of Haack’s family, and they haven’t looked back since. Recently, they celebrated the one-year anniversary of his rescue, marking how far he’s come.
While no one knows exactly what Joey endured before he was found, the kindness of a stranger and the dedication of a foster mom gave him the future he deserved.
“Our goal was always to give him a life so full of love that he’d forget whatever happened to him,” Haack said. “And honestly, life with Joey has been better than we ever imagined.”