A puppy who had a very rough start in life is now on the mend, thanks to the hard work of a local animal rescue.
The puppy, who has since been named Hope, was found outside a restaurant in Newport, Tennessee. According to People, the sweet little girl was found in a trash can. Even more horrifying, the 8-week-old puppy was found with chemical burns covering 60% of her body. Her tongue and ear were the most damaged areas.
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Hope was taken to the Friends Animal Shelter of Cocke County after she was first found. The shelter is working together with Brother Wolf Animal Rescue in Asheville, North Carolina. Hope has now been transferred to Brother Wolf, where she is getting around-the-clock care from the rescue's veterinarian. A lot of hard work is going into Hope's recovery, but everyone involved is very optimistic. Because of her young age, she's expected to bounce back quickly and has a whole lot of love to give.
An 8-week-old puppy had a tremendously tough start at life. She was found outside a restaurant in Newport, Tennessee, in a trash can.
Upon a closer look, it was clear that the puppy had chemical burns covering 60% of her body.
The puppy was taken to Friends Animal Shelter of Cocke County. There, she was given the fitting name Hope.
Friends Animal Shelter of Cocke County director Elisha Henry recalled the overwhelming emotions upon seeing the poor pup. She told WVLT, "I literally sat at my desk and cried for half an hour and I called her Hope, because that's what she needed. She needed Hope."
After a few days, Hope was transferred to a partner shelter. At Brother Wolf Animal Rescue, the veterinary staff is giving Hope around-the-clock care.
Hope's injuries require a lot of work. She has already undergone one major surgery.
A badly damaged portion of Hope's ear was removed as a result of the burns. Necrotic tissue was also removed from her chest and stomach.
Hope needs to be sedated on occasion so that her wounds can be flushed. Her caregivers also anticipate another surgery to remove additional tissue from her ear.
Brother Wolf is working to make sure that Hope recovers and also that she gets justice. The police are investigating Hope's case and working to hire an animal control officer to help decrease animal abuse incidents within the county.
In the meantime, Hope has gotten an outpouring of love. Not only is she being doted on by everyone at Brother Wolf, but she's also getting gifts sent to her by many who have been touched by her story.
Hope's spirit hasn't been broken by everything that's happened to her. A spokesperson for Brother Wolf described her to People as "spunky, playful, goofy and unbelievably sweet."
Hope's story has also helped find her a forever home. According to WVLT, a man has already reached out to inquire about Hope after losing his own pet recently.
The shelter is familiar with the man and thinks that he and Hope will be a perfect match for each other. She's cleared to go with him once she's a little further along in her recovery.
We're so happy to hear that Hope will get the life full of love that she deserves. The work animal rescues do is so very important, and it's vital to support it in any way you can.
