She was so happy to see them.
By Sarah Ashley
Published on Jan 17, 2026 at 5:00 PM
On a Saturday last November, several friends headed into rural Mississippi for a hike. They drove along back roads, unaware they were about to save a life.
As the friends approached an abandoned mobile home, they saw trash all over the yard and a creature with floppy ears next to a huge pine tree. Driving closer, they realized someone had chained a skeletal dog with blue-gray fur to the tree.
An abandoned dog chained to a tree without food or water.
Northshore Humane Society
The friends pulled over to investigate.
The dog, later named Draven, had no access to food or water. She couldn’t reach the doghouse nearby because the chain tethering her to the tree was too short. Flies covered her frail body.
Immediately, the friends called local police, as there were no humane societies in the area. Officers instructed them to knock on the mobile home door. If no one answered, they should return in 24 hours and knock again.
An abandoned property in rural Mississippi.
Northshore Humane Society
No one answered the knocks. Disappointed but undeterred, the friends went on their hike, then hurried back to the dog.
Still alone, Draven wagged her tail and leapt at the friends when they approached her. Temperatures were dropping, and they couldn’t leave her outside without food, water or shelter.
Rescuer approaches a scared and skinny dog chained to a tree.
Northshore Humane Society
The friends called an adoption counselor they knew at Northshore Humane Society in nearby Louisiana and decided to take a risk, loading the dog into their car.
Rescuer holds hand up to emaciated dog’s body for comparison.
Northshore Humane Society
Draven’s excitement was obvious right away. She licked her saviors and wiggled her body wildly before settling into the realization that she was safe and warm.
A dog rescued from bad conditions is safe and warm in a car.
Northshore Humane Society
“She was extremely dehydrated, absolute skin and bones,” Mikaela Martin, events and marketing coordinator for Northshore Humane Society, told The Dodo.
Vets determined Draven was about 4 years old, had delivered several litters and weighed just 39 pounds — half what a healthy weight would be.
“We treated her for heartworms, we had her on fluids for a little bit,” Martin said. “We had to do slow feedings for her, just so that we didn’t overwhelm her stomach and her body.”
Northshore Humane Society
Over the next few weeks, through treatment and weigh-ins, Draven’s sweet and loving personality shone brightly.
“She never had any reaction to any people,” Martin said. “She stayed dog-friendly … which is so insane, how forgiving pets can be to people, when they’ve been done so wrong.”
Dog rescued by hikers curls up in car backseat.
Northshore Humane Society
After three months and a glowing report from a foster family, Draven was adopted by an older gentleman who fell in love with her — and Martin said the feeling was mutual: “She loves this man.”
Dog gets adopted by elderly man who loves her.
Northshore Humane Society
Draven left Northshore Humane Society weighing 51 pounds and happy as can be.
If you would like to support Northshore Humane Society’s efforts, you can donate through their website.