But one heartbreaking viral photo shows an abandoned little dog left tied to a fire hydrant by her former owner. 

Thankfully, the dog is now in safe hands. The dog, a tan mixed-breed named Baby Girl, was left tied up to a yellow fire hydrant in Green Bay, Wisconsin. 

According to WFRV Local 5, the dog had a note explaining that the owners could no longer care for the dog, along with a backpack full of the dog’s treats, toys and food.

  While it’s clear the owners had their reasons and thought they were doing the responsible thing, it didn’t make it any less of a shock for Kyle Rose Engelhardt, a local woman who found the dog and shared the story on Facebook. 

She said seeing Baby Girl like this broke her heart: “Cannot believe someone could do this,” she wrote, asking if anyone recognized the abandoned dog. 

Kylie called the police and took Baby Girl to the Wisconsin Humane Society, who took the poor dog into their care and say that she is now “doing great” while in stray hold.

  While this wasn’t the most responsible way to part with a dog and many people reacted to the story with outrage, the Humane Society was more sympathetic to the owners, addressing them directly in a Facebook post: 

  First and foremost, we are so sorry you had to part with your best friend. It’s evident just how much you loved her and we can see you did your best while struggling with your own medical complications and challenges of life. We see your love in the bag you carefully packed with all of her favorite things. We see your love in the way you secured her leash so she wouldn’t get hit by a car. We see your love in the way you placed her in the middle of a neighborhood where she’d be quickly found. We see your love in how happy and healthy Baby Girl looks. And we see your love in the note you left, pleading for someone to help her when you no longer could. 

While the Humane Society points out that they allow anonymous surrenders and that they won’t let surrender fees “be a barrier,” they told the owners they were ultimately “grateful for your compassion.” 

They wrote that Baby Girl is now getting lots of attention from the staff, and that she has a “bright future ahead.” Poor Baby Girl — we’re sure she was so heartbroken and confused after being left alone like that. 

But still, it’s apparent that the owners couldn’t care for her anymore, and everything worked out okay in the end.
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It can be depressing to think of all the people who think the world’s wildlife belongs to them and is just there for the taking. BBC’s Nature’s Miracle Orphans / Youtube
But thankfully there are people who are prepared to turn their whole world upside down to save our beautiful wildlife, in more ways than one. 

Meet animal hero Roxy Danckwerst who has been caring for sick and orphaned animals for the last two decades. Her latest addition is Moyo, a baby elephant, who has taken over the rescue center and home of Roxy. Moyo, meaning ‘of the heart,’ was found by rangers after she was left abandoned on the shores of Lake Kariba, in Zimbabwe. 

She was only a few days old when she had tried to cross a flooded river with her elephant family and got washed away. He was taken to Roxy’s rescue center in Harare called Wild is Life where he has taken to his new surroundings and follows Roxy wherever she goes. Not the most convenient living situation as Moyo weighs 123 pounds. 

Roxy has nursed and rehabilitated many baby elephants before releasing them back into the wild but Roxy will take a bit longer as he’s frightened of everything and sick too, according to Go Animals.

Animal rescuer Roxy even slept by his side every night until she gained his trust. Now the two are inseparable and he follows her everywhere, even lying next to her on the couch. 

See these two adorable souls together and Moyo’s love for all things silver in the clip below from BBC show ‘Nature’s Miracle Orphans.’

  It’s going to be heartbreaking for these two when Moyo is ready to be released into the wild but Roxy knows this is for the best.
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But this dog has never lost his spirit, and over the past few months has undergone an incredible recovery — and now, one year later, his new owner confirmed the good news that Buddy is “fully healed” and doing great. 

Caution: this story contains some photos that may be distressing to readers. 

Buddy first made headlines last April, after he returned home with severe burns on his face after being set on fire. 

His skin was charred, and the burning was so bad it caused his eyes to be swollen shut, making him unable to see. He also had an extension cord around his neck, apparently used to hold him down. The perpetrator of the horrific attack was later identified as a child, who confessed to setting the dog on fire but couldn’t be charged under Mississippi law, which states that no one younger than 12 can be prosecuted. 

Buddy’s injuries were so bad he had to be surrendered to the Tunica Humane Society to get proper treatment. His vets were shocked by the case, and cautioned at the time that the dog had a long road ahead, stating that his “prognosis isn’t good right now.” 

“It’s unfathomable that someone could be that evil,” Sandy Williams, director of the Tunica Humane Society told FOX 13. “Buddy was an extremely friendly, non-threatening dog. He followed the children in the area everywhere.” 

“Buddy’s vital signs are good but, as with any burn patient, this is very much the bottom of a tall mountain to be climbed,” said Dr. Elizabeth Swanson, associate professor and veterinary surgeon, told WTVA.

  Buddy was later transported to the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine to receive further treatment, and vets were impressed by his positive attitude despite everything. 

“He was in good spirits, wagging his tail and very co-operative,” the Humane Society wrote in an update.

  Over time, Buddy continued to heal. With bandages wrapped around his head, Buddy was unable to see, but vets were relieved to discover that the burns had not damaged his eyelids. “He continues to move forward daily,” the Humane Society wrote on Facebook. 

“During his bandage change today, he showed remarkable improvement in the appearance of his face. While Buddy continues to heal, he is learning some basic commands.”

After a few months of progress, Buddy had undergone skin grafts that made him require fewer bandages, allowing him to slowly return to his old self. 

“Now that his ears are loose from the bandages, he is much happier and more playful. I am sure he is feeling so much joy as he slowly gets his life back to normal,” Tunica Humane Society reported last summer.

  And Buddy hit a major milestone last August after vets finally removed the bandages from his face, allowing him to see for the first time in months. 

“His eyes were actually open and he was very aware,” the Humane Society wrote. “In answer to your thousands and thousands of prayers, YES, Buddy can still see.” 

“Buddy’s last real memory of vision was in the final horrific moments just before his face was set on fire by a child. In the blink of an eye, this dog’s whole life changed.” Facebook/Tunica HumaneSociety
Finally being able to see was a huge step towards returning to normalcy for this poor pup, and his carers say that his personality has begun to shine again. 

“Buddy’s whole personality has changed since seeing the light of day,” Sandy Williams, director of the Tunica Humane Society, told WREG.

And recently, one year after Buddy was horribly burned, the Humane Society announced another inspiring update: Buddy is now “fully healed.” 

Buddy has been living in a foster home with Dr. Swanson, and the vet confirmed that Buddy is living his best life.

 

“His face is now completely healed,” the Tunica Humane Society wrote. “He no longer has to wear an e-collar and he is loving that! His days are now spent like any normal dog. Playing fetch, taking long walks, being spoiled for the awesome dog he is!” 

“Buddy’s miraculous recovery from his near fatal injuries is truly a Miracle and all of his caregivers have much to be proud of.”

Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine, who treated Buddy, also marked the occasion with a reunion with their patient and celebrated Buddy’s recovery. 

“Many surgeries, hugs from everyone in the hospital, and games of fetch later, he’s thriving in his foster home!” the college wrote in a Facebook post, sharing a photo of all the vet staff with the happy and healed Buddy.

  It’s horrific to think about what Buddy went through, but we’re so glad to see how far he’s come over the past year.

It was a no-brainer: Sebahat knew she couldn’t just leave the pups. At the same time, she also knew the improbability of saving all the homeless pups right off the bat. So instead of panicking, Sebahat set out her priorities. 

She would start by going to the areas where the abandoned pups were barely surviving. She started the journey by waking up at the break of dawn every morning. She would then gather blankets, water, and food, and start the trek into the mountains to search for new pups. 

Of course, the pups loved to see their savior – and not just because she brought them food and water, or tried to build them better shelter. The pups knew that Sebahat truly cared for them, and they loved her for the companionship she offered. And after being cruelly abandoned by previous “owners”, it was only right that the pups finally had happiness in the form of a loving human. 

The journey didn’t end there. To this day, Sebahat visits 5 areas on a daily basis to give abandoned pups everything she has (and more). Despite her actions to help the homeless pups, Sebahat still didn’t like leaving them out in the open with no protection. 

Fortunately, this sparked an idea that would begin a slow (but necessary) change. With the help of a few volunteers, Sebahat started building sheds to give the pups some shelter. Source
Sebahat and the pups are forces to be reckoned with though. The cruel actions of others have only made them more determined to beat the odds. 

“I’m just doing what we should all be doing,” Sebahat said. “And I’ll never give up.”
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