Gabe Botello, who works for Villa Pizza, says he was in the middle of a delivery around 3 a.m. when he spotted a very young girl alone in the cold. 

"I had people's food, so I ran to the door and I gave them their food," Botello told FOX 17. "I went back looking for her [and] I didn't find her, so I got in my car, I drove around for a minute. I didn't find her [so] I started pulling into parking lots." 

He eventually spotted the girl at a factory across the street. She was curled up between two cement blocks and wearing nothing but a t-shirt, diaper, and socks. Botello put his sweatshirt on her and called 911. "I had some water in my car, so she was drinking some water and I was just kind of like rubbing her back, letting her know she was okay and she started falling asleep," said Botello. 

"She was so just like exhausted and cold." Police were able to reunite the 3-year-old with her mother, who was unaware her daughter was missing and thought she was sleeping. It's unclear how the toddler got out and for how long, but the Grand Rapids Police Department believes it was an accident. 

Botello is just glad he was at the right place at the right time. "Sometimes you want to turn a blind eye but, you just never know [who] you're saving," said Botello. 

"Anybody could have picked up that little girl. In the middle of Ionia and Wealthy is not the best part of Grand Rapids, there's a lot of foot traffic over there, so, you know, I'm just glad she made it home. I'm glad she's okay."
Source

When Queen was 3 years old and just as sweet as can be, she’d still somehow been overlooked time and again during those long months in the shelter. 

One day in September, animal activist Scott Poore decided enough was enough. Scott runs an organization called “Mission Driven” that creates and promotes fundraisers to help animal shelters. 

Once he heard about how depressed Queen had become from living in the shelter for so long, he decided to do what he could to draw some attention to the homeless pup. After he met her, he was even more determined to help her find her forever home. 

Scott said Queen is “the most affectionate lovable dog I probably have ever worked with,” and he should know. He ended up spending plenty of one-on-one time with her after he publicly moved into Queen’s kennel. Scott brought along a few belongings and bedding, which he shared with Queen. He was determined to live with her until she was adopted. 

After seven days and seven nights, she found her forever home! “I honestly did not know if I was going to be there 24 hours or a month but I was prepared to do either,” he said. “Seven nights in an animal shelter is quite a long time I have to admit.” As you can imagine, animal shelters are not a great place to get any rest. Scott admitted that he barely slept during his seven days in the kennel: “Between all the animals barking and Queen every hour on the hour waking me up with her rope toy wanting to play.” 

But all of Scott’s hardships were rewarded when a father and son from the Kansas City area saw a report about Queen and her new roommate and decided to step up and adopt her. 

“I just want to thank them for opening up their home and their hearts for such an incredible dog who deserves a long life in a loving home,” he said. “I had the pleasure of meeting the father and the son and it’s going to be a perfect home for them and for Queen. It’s a win-win for both sides.” As for why he didn’t simply adopt Queen himself, he reminded people that as an animal advocate he comes in contact with needy animals every single day. 

“I can’t adopt every animal that I help because then I will have 1,000 animals in my house,” said Scott. Once Queen had found her people, this dog lover moved on to find the next animal who desperately needs him. 

“What helps me get through the emotional side of my work is I move very quickly to the next animal [who] needs my help,” he explained.

  We’re so grateful to people like Scott for speaking for those without voices. Being willing to sacrifice your own comfort for an animal’s happiness is the ultimate good deed in our books. 

Thank you, Scott! Watch Queen finally leaving the shelter after 400 long days in the video below:

 
Source

The doctor then broke the news to him, right after those first moments of wonder and euphoria.

 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by John Anisimov (@evgen_tyz)

“I fear your baby has Down Syndrome.” Evgeny was yanked from the mile-high cloud he was riding on and thrown into an unexpected ocean of uncertainty and fear. 

 What could all of this mean? When Evgeny learned that his baby might have Down Syndrome, he was devastated.

 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by John Anisimov (@evgen_tyz)

The 33-year-old father recalled leaving the hospital in tears after the doctors broke the news to him. The tears quickly dried up, and he was embarrassed by his initial reaction. 

“In my life, after all, nothing had changed, in general. I was still with two arms, with two legs. My professional knowledge had gone nowhere,” he said. “My determination, activity, curiosity, and so on—everything was with me. Everything happened as I planned, my son was born. But the child is special, his life and future destiny are already very significant.” 

His sadness was transformed into determination. Evgeny realized he was being self-centered and that he should be capable of caring for the child, no matter how difficult that may be.

 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by John Anisimov (@evgen_tyz)

When he got home that evening, he turned on his computer and began researching Down syndrome. He devoured every bit of information he could find on the subject. 

Fortunately, what he discovered was mostly positive. “I learned that in Europe, people with Down Syndrome are well-socialized, can live and work independently. But the decision I had already made was not influenced by that,” he recalled. 

He had never considered abandoning his son, but it appears that his wife had other ideas. She desired that he be placed in foster care. Evgeny and his wife have always had a “good and trusting” relationship. After hearing about her plan, he assured her that they would get through it together.

 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by John Anisimov (@evgen_tyz)

Unfortunately, she was not persuaded. Their disagreement eventually drove them apart. “Now I understand that she was just scared at the time, she started to act according to the wrong scenario, and by then, the rubicon was already crossed and it was too late to retreat from the scenario,” he remarked. 

Evgeny has since raised Mishka on his own. He tucks him in, bathes him, and prepares dinner for him every night. Although each chore is simple, the single father admits that doing it every day is difficult. He is fortunate that his mother assists him so that he can spend some time alone. 

Evgeny also plans a variety of activities for Misha to help him grow physically and mentally. Since he was five months old, the child has attended weekly swimming lessons. In addition, he has begun speech therapy.

 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by John Anisimov (@evgen_tyz)

Evgeny is grateful that many people have contributed to his ability to pay for these expensive activities. “I understand that the future might bring more issues, but I hope that we will be able to overcome everything,” the loving father said.

 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by John Anisimov (@evgen_tyz)

Evgeny’s goal is to disseminate knowledge. He wants to raise awareness about Down syndrome and help families who are experiencing the same difficulties as parents of special needs children. 

“I want all the articles about Mishka and me that are being published now to convey that idea to society and instill it. And I also want to support, inspire with my example those people who are or will be in the same situation as me,” he shared.

 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by John Anisimov (@evgen_tyz)

“I try to communicate with those who are within reach. I correspond with those who are far away. I hope that those who have difficulties now, as it was for us, read about us: Have no fear! Everything will be fine!”
Source

  Animal rescuers were called after the terrified dog was found on a West Oahu beach. She was swollen, severely dehydrated, covered in sores and missing most of her fur when she was found, PAWS of Hawaii wrote on its Facebook page. 

“Someone had just buried her and they had a machete, so who knows what was next,” said PAWS of Hawaii, which named the dog Leialoha, the Hawaiian word for “beloved child.” The animal rescue group responded to the call and found Leialoha with fresh knife cuts to her paws. 

“The man who buried her, we were led to believe, had started to cut her,” PAWS executive director Ku’ulei Durand told NAVC. The rescued pup was in terrible condition. “She resisted [human help] the first day,” Durand said. “I went there the second day to bathe her and she just bled from every inch of her body. She is missing most of her fur and was sunburned. But I also believe she was burnt from the heat of the hot sand where she was buried. Her legs were so swollen and her skin felt cooked.” 

A Local Veterinarian Provides Medical Care “We received a phone call from Paws of Hawaii saying they were bringing in a dog that was buried alive in the sand,” Dr. Kelly Dowdall-Garberson told NAVC. 

Dowdall-Garberson is the owner of Aloha Affordable Veterinary Services in Aiea, Hawaii. “Leialoha came in about 1.5 hours later. Upon presentation, she was depressed and severely dehydrated. She was covered in sand. She had severe cellulitis and edema of her limbs and was unable to stand. 

She was severely sunburned with multiple lacerations on her legs. She also had chronic scales and crusts.” Durand told local news outlets that they believe Leialoha’s owner planned to kill her. “He felt he was ending her suffering by trying to end her life, instead of getting her the help she needed,” Durand said. “Her skin, if you were able to smell her, is rancid because she has so many open sores that are infected.” 

“After an initial assessment and exam that showed she was stable, we performed a CBC/Chem, E. canis antibody test, parvo antigen test and heartworm antigen test,” Dowdall-Garberson says. “Her initial treatment included a subcutaneous fluid bolus, Convenia, Cerenia and B vitamins. Dowdall-Garberson’s team also also began gently bathing her to remove as much sand as possible. 

“We applied coconut oil/SSD ointment to her skin,” Dowdall-Garberson told NAVC. After several hours, Leialoha began eating and drinking. Once Leialoha was stabilized, Dowdall-Garberson says she was placed with a foster family, who are caring for her with SSD ointment and probiotics. “Leialoha has returned every 2 days for reassessment and a CBC/Chem,” says Dowdall-Garberson. “Her anemia, thrombocytopenia, leukocytosis, neutrophilia, hypoproteinemia, hyperglobulinemia, and hypoglycemia are normalizing. 

She is now receiving daily probiotics, BID application of coconut oil/SSD ointment, twice weekly baths of Malaket shampoo, Metronidazole and Enrofloxacin. She has also been treated with Interceptor Plus and Credelio.” 

Dowdall-Garberson, whose clinic partners with several animal rescue organizations on Oahu to provide low-cost veterinary services to animals in their care, happily reports that “Leialoha makes daily strides at home with her foster family — eating treats, seeking affection, wagging her tail and gaining weight.” 

Donations for Leialoha’s continued care can be made through PAWS of Hawaii.
Source