Anonymous—Georgia
Rescue from the Woods
I have horses and board them at a military base in Georgia. While out riding, miles from the base, I saw a small white dog running through the woods. I could not get close because the dog was afraid of the horses. The same dog was seen several times throughout the next week, but no one could get near her.
The dog was in a military training area which was off-limits to privately-owned vehicles, and miles away from the nearest housing area. So, it was apparent that she had been taken out to the woods and abandoned by a soldier—one who obviously never gave a thought to the alligators, coyotes and hawks who prey on small animals!
It was summer and the heat index was at 120-125 degrees. I was worried about the pup, so I took my truck back into the woods to look for her. I was just about to give up when I saw a small white form lying motionless on a dirt trail. As I came closer, she picked up her head and with her two front legs tried to pull herself away from me. She was so starved and dehydrated that she could not even walk to get away.
When I picked her up, she just collapsed. I thought she was dead, but apparently it was just out of relief. I took her home and nursed her back to health. She was completely underweight and it took several days for her to even be able to walk without wobbling. That was a year ago and today this small Maltese, now named Little Bit, remains one of my most devoted fans.