Just wait until you see his face …
Rescuers at Gateway Pet Guardians (GPG) have faced their fair share of tricky situations, but this Valentine’s Day, one particularly determined pup put their skills to the ultimate test.
For days, calls poured into GPG’s hotline about a brown stray roaming the streets of East St. Louis—his head completely encased in a purple bucket.
The rescue team had been tracking the elusive dog for a while, but he had always managed to slip away. However, his love for cheeseballs proved to be his downfall—an empty snack bucket had become a trap, leaving him unable to eat, drink, or breathe properly.
GPG knew time was running out.
“Despite multiple search efforts, he kept evading capture,” the organization shared in a press release. “We found him on February 13 thanks to a concerned citizen’s tip, but once again, he bolted.”
Determined not to give up, GPG joined forces with Stray Rescue of St. Louis and returned the next day, but the crafty pup still managed to escape.
With no other choice, the team made a difficult call: they administered a mild sedative via dart to slow him down just enough to secure him safely.
“We don’t know how long he had been struggling, but it was clear he had gone at least three to four days without food or water,” said Alisha Vianello, GPG’s executive director. “Had that bucket stayed on any longer, the outcome could have been tragic.”
The moment rescuers freed him from the bucket, they were met with a face sweeter than they ever expected.
Nicknamed Buckethead, the resilient pup was finally safe.
Without a microchip, his past remains a mystery. Was he once someone’s pet? Had he spent his life as a stray? No one knows for sure—but one thing is certain: he’s ready for a fresh start.
“He was terrified at first, but now he knows people are here to help,” Vianello said. “He has an amazing temperament, and I have no doubt he’ll make an incredible family pet.”
Now, all Buckethead needs is a loving home to call his own.