Meet Charlie, a young puppy who narrowly avoided a tragic ending.
The length of time Charlie was left alone in a dog crate on the side of a highway in
Little Rock, Arkansas is unknown.
The situation was dire as Charlie was trapped inside, facing a life of confinement in a
small, hot cage with no food or water.
Charlie was not provided with any food, water, or means of relieving herself, forcing her
to sit in her own waste for days on end.
The pup desperately attempted to escape the crate by clawing and biting at it.
The crate was partially hidden by foliage and blended in with the dry grass of rural
Arkansas, making it easy to overlook.
It is not surprising that the crate went unnoticed by many, as it was practically camouflaged
by its surroundings.
There was no help in sight as cars repeatedly passed by without stopping to investigate
the situation.
This changed when Brett Wenninger and his son came across the crate while on an afternoon
motorcycle ride down the Little Rock Highway.
Brett and his son Zach, despite already having pets back home, had a soft spot for animals
in need.
When Zach spotted the crate while passing by, he prompted his father to investigate.
The two men wondered why someone would leave the crate in the middle of January, in such
a dangerous area, instead of disposing of it responsibly.
Upon closer inspection, Brett and Zach were shocked to discover that the crate contained
a suffering puppy.
The dog had even managed to make a hole in the crate, though their escape attempt was
ultimately unsuccessful.
The condition of the crate and the strong odor emanating from the puppy indicated that
they had been abandoned for an extended period of time.
Brett and Zach observed that the puppy had a strong odor of death and that its paws and
fur were caked in its own excrement.
The puppy's ribcage was clearly visible, indicating severe malnourishment, and Zach described
it as being nothing more than skin and bones.
The situation was dire and time was of the essence.
If Charlie was going to survive, she needed immediate care.
Would the father, son duo be equipped to help or would their heartfelt efforts be too little,
too late.
The dog was in rough shape.
She was hunched up in an odd posture and Brett realized she was too big for her cage.
Zach and Brett tried open the crate to free the animal and give her some much-needed space.
With the men's help, the dog was brought out of the kennel and given the chance to stretch
out to her full size.
At this point, the Good Samaritans feared the dog would flee.
Capitalizing on its newfound freedom, but in reality, she barely moved at all.
This is when father and son noticed the poor dog's paws were injured and hurting.
The Pup’s walking was impeded by the nails that had grown so long.
They were growing back into the paws.
To make things worse, her paws were naturally white, but had been stained brown from standing
so long in her own waist.
Her body was covered in small bruises and abrasions from being confined in a crate that
was far too small.
The situation wasn't looking good at all.
Brett conferred with his son and they agreed to a change of plans.
Their father and son motorcycle trip suddenly became a father-son rescue mission.
Could they save this creature from near death?
After many days exposed to the mid-January weather, they certainly had to try their best.
The first step was the hardest.
The duo had to get back on their bikes and speed home for supplies.
They went quickly, fervently hoping the dog did not run away or go missing while they
were gone.
They got their truck and borrowed food and equipment from their dogs at home.
It was a nerve-wracking ride back down the highway.
Hopefully, the puppy was still alive and on the scene.
Who knows who could have driven by and seen the pup wondering by the road.
As luck would have it, Brett and Zach returned to the dog in time.
She had waited near the crate, two week and emaciated to go far, Brett and Zach approached
with caution not wanting to scare the pup or distress her any further.
The pup recognized her returning saviours and let them come near.
It was like she knew they were there to help.
Being mindful that her mouth may still be sore from chewing at the crate and trying
to free herself.
The men slowly started feeding her and giving her some water.
With some sustenance, the puppy gained strength enough to be transported.
Eventually, she let out a low growl.
He saw the growl as an indication that she had enough will to live and to hang on while
they got her treatment.
As Brett led her towards his truck, he suggested they call her Charlie Bravo.
After the 1980s film about freeing a captive nurse in Vietnam.
The name was also a playful nod to the motorcycles the men were riding when they came upon Charlie
on the side of the road.
The situation was still very pressing.
The men tactfully had to go about helping Charlie.
They had to decide what issues to deal with first.
Should they help her get clean, get her properly nourished, find a veterinarian or other animal
professional to examine her or attempt to locate her owner?
Fortunately for Charlie, the father and son were familiar with rescue dogs having a few
of their own already.
They decided to clean her up first and headed straight home.
Brave little Charlie persevered, staying strong in the unfamiliar truck and then in Brett's
house.
As Brett washed Charlie in the tub, scraping off the old excrement cake dinner fur, Zach
made some calls and found a veterinarian, willing to see her on short notice.
Though the situation was dire, things were progressing well, and after getting cleaned
up, Charlie grew more comfortable around the men.
However, time was very much still of the essence.
They wanted to ensure that the dog was healthy on the insiders and to put her in a position
to heal from all her injuries.
Back in the truck they went, they raced across town to the veterinarian to have Charlie examined.
She was severely malnourished and was clearly under socialized.
The vet could estimate that Charlie had spent very little time around people or other dogs.
Zach surprised that she must have lived most of her life trapped in that dreaded crate.
What a nightmare that must have been!
With the health crisis averted Brett and Zach then had to decide what to do with the little
Charlie, should they leave her in the capable but unprepared hands of the veterinarian?
After a brief discussion, the men realized they had already become very attached to Charlie.
They wanted to take her home and keep her safe for the time being.
Everyone agreed this would be the temporary solution until they could find Charlie a good
forever home.
Brett explained they simply did not have the money and resources to add another dog permanently
to their household, that is until an unexpected miracle happened!
Brett and Zack posted a photograph of Charlie on social media hoping to spread the word
about the found dog to their community.
As they nurtured Charlie back to health over the coming days, something truly beautiful
happened.
The Little Rock community responded to Charlie's situation with positivity and generosity,
presumably taking a page from Brett and Zack's book.
The community actually organized and fundraised for Charlie.
They raised enough money to cover her food and vet bills and even had extra money left
over.
The money was gifted to Brett and Zach to do with, as they pleased.
What did our heroes do with this surplus money?
These amazing men donated the extra money to animal rescue charities.
They took only as much money as they needed to help Charlie and poured the rest of it
right back into their community and then something extraordinary happened.
Charlie, in turn grew more comfortable around Brett and Zach and shook off most of her original
skittishness around people.
In the loving and supportive environment, the family established the puppy turned into
a happy and healthy dog.
Despite her dire condition, Charlie had already won over the hearts of the Wenninger family,
and they decided to adopt her.
Charlie officially became a member of their family.
Today, Charlie lives with Brett and Zach, and is growing into a beautiful and well-behaved
dog that is deeply loved.
She serves as a reminder that with care and compassion, anyone can overcome a difficult
start in life.
Charlie's story has spread throughout the United States and serves as an example of
the importance of rescuing animals.
She also brings joy and enrichment to the Little Rock community.
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Thank you.