He had been given away for free 🥺
By Sarah Ashley
Published on Oct 9, 2025 at 11:51 AM
During a recent heatwave in Michigan, a woman noticed a frail dog sitting alone in a Detroit neighborhood. As she got closer, her heart sank: The skinny dog was tied to a fire hydrant and covered in scrapes.
“He was so infested with fleas, it was beyond,” Judie Jones, director at Make a Difference Rescue, told The Dodo. “His ribs were showing.”
A volunteer with Make a Difference Rescue arrived to collect the pup. Often, the dogs cower from humans because “they don’t know what you’re going to do,” said Jones.
But this dog seemed to recognize a gentle soul had come to help.
“He allowed us to untie him,” Jones said. “He allowed us to put him right in the car … He was very thankful to be rescued.”
Though unclear how long he’d been outside, Jones said that in 80-degree weather, it wouldn’t have taken long for a dog his size to grow very dehydrated.
At his first vet visit, the 4-year-old dog, later named Buddy, received a full wellness exam, a bath and treatment for the fleas and skin infections on his back.
During this entire process, Buddy’s friendly disposition never wavered.
“He’s about as sweet as sugar,” Jones said. “His personality is pretty stable for what he’s gone through.”
Jones and her volunteer network did some digging and were able to determine that Buddy’s owners had given him away for free. Unfortunately, whoever they gave him to had abandoned Buddy without food, water or shelter.
Sadly, Jones sees dogs in situations like this all the time. She makes a point to treat them like royalty right away.
“After we go to the vet’s … we always stop at McDonald’s,” Jones said. “I’ll tell you what — he loves chicken nuggets.”
Since Buddy’s rescue, he’s really come alive. He enjoys cuddling and feeling the breeze through an open window during car rides. Later this week, he’ll officially be up for adoption through Make a Difference Rescue.
“I don’t see any aggression in him,” Jones said. “He is just so cuddly and wonderful.”
She knows his forever family is out there, waiting to give him all the love he deserves.
If you’re interested in adopting Buddy or want to donate to his care, you can reach out to Make a Difference Rescue via their website.
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Dogs Stuck In Flooded Canal With ‘No Way Out’ Hope Someone Will Notice Them
“There’s no way in, and there’s no way out.”
On Christmas Day last year in New Orleans, it rained nonstop from morning to night. While most people stayed indoors to avoid the bad weather, two pitties found themselves stuck outside in the downpour.
A New Orleans resident was walking by one of the city’s canals when they noticed two dogs trapped at the bottom. Knowing how dangerous the situation was for the pups, they immediately called Zeus’ Rescues for help.
“I was like, ‘Oh they’re not gonna survive in that long. It’s a torrential rain coming in,’” Michelle Cheramie, director of Zeus’ Rescues, told The Dodo.
When the Zeus’ Rescues team arrived, the dogs were both terrified — understandable, considering what humans had just put them through.
“When we first got there, their barks were scared barks,” Cheramie said. “And then, once we got over into the canal with them, I noticed their barks turned a little bit higher, which usually means, ‘Hey. You’re not as scary as I thought you were.’”
As heartbreaking as it is to see dogs stuck in a canal, according to Cheramie, it’s something Zeus’ Rescues sees all too frequently.
“It is such a common place for people to dump animals,” Cheramie said. “There’s no way in, and there’s no way out.”
Thankfully for these dogs, rescuers arrived just in time. As the rain came down and the water got more and more dangerous, Cheramie coaxed the pups to safety.
The female pup, whom the rescuers named Francis, was the first to brave the rushing stream. Once Norman, the male pup, saw his sister take the leap, he quickly followed.
Cheramie rushed the siblings over to the Zeus’ Rescues facility, where they received the care they needed. Despite being stuck in a cold, dirty canal, the pups didn’t have any major health concerns. In fact, they recovered remarkably quickly.
“They’re unflappable with their happiness,” Cheramie said.
Although they were rescued a few months ago, Francis and Norman are both still looking for their forever families. After being rescued on such a cold, rainy day, what these dogs are hoping for now is a home where they can soak up as much warmth as possible.
“They love to be in the sunshine and will just lay out like a cat in the sun,” Cheramie said. “They’re perfect angels.”
If you’re interested in adopting Norman and Francis, you can fill out an application here. If you’d like to support Zeus’ Rescues, you can make a donation here.
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