All she could do was wait ….
One morning, a staff member at Austin Pets Alive! (APA!) arrived at work to find a box sitting outside the Parvo ICU door. Curious, she approached and peeked inside, only to find a bewildered French Bulldog staring up at her. The little pup, later named McNugget, had been abandoned with a note that read, “Found Dog S. 1st & Congress. No owner has reached out.”
The staff member quickly brought McNugget inside to get her settled, unaware that there were more surprises waiting. Upon examination, it was discovered that McNugget was unable to use her hind legs due to a collapsed disc and a condition called spondylosis. She was paralyzed, likely unable to escape the box she was abandoned in, even if she had wanted to.
“We imagine the person who left her knew that APA! would ensure her safety, despite the challenges she faced,” Luis Sanchez, the public relations and communications officer for APA!, told The Dodo.
Despite her difficult start, McNugget began to heal in foster care. Soon, the perfect family arrived to adopt her. They renamed her Shrimpina, and from the moment they met, they were smitten.
“When I met her, she immediately scooted over to me as fast as she could,” said Bailey Guptill, Shrimpina’s new mom. “Once I held her in my arms, I was in love.” Now, Shrimpina is thriving in her new home and has even managed to take her first steps, doing her best to learn how to walk again. Every day is a new adventure, and she’s deeply grateful for her loving family.
“Shrimpina is a bundle of energy,” Guptill shared. “As soon as she wakes up, she’s ready for snuggles and kisses. She loves cuddling on the couch but is also a fan of squeaky toys. The best part is having her sit in my lap while I work from home. She’s the best lap dog ever!”
Thanks to rescues like APA!, dogs like Shrimpina are given a second chance at life—and she’s not wasting a single moment of it.