A dog stranded in the pouring rain outside a convenience store in North Carolina made for a heartbreaking sight, as she appeared to have lost all hope. She stood there, drenched and miserable, seemingly resigned to her fate. However, there were some people who refused to let her suffer alone. Valinda Cortez was one such person – she stumbled upon the dog while still dressed in her pajamas and flip-flops on a Sunday morning.
“I felt my heart sink as I stepped out of the car,” Cortez shares with The Dodo. “This helpless puppy had been left out in the cold rain for a significant amount of time. She was shivering from the cold.”
“It was clear to me that someone had abandoned this little pup,” Cortez adds.
Despite feeling intimidated, the dog remained calm as Cortez covered her with a blanket and extended her hand towards her.
Cortez chose to stay by the puppy’s side, refusing to leave until the dog trusted her. After over an hour, the shivering puppy eventually warmed up to Cortez’s presence.
As Cortez approached the wet, matted fur of the abandoned dog, her heart shattered at the sight of the poor creature’s wounded front leg and diseased eyes. In a state of emotional turmoil, she realized that she hadn’t thought through what she would do with the dog once she rescued it. Thankfully, she called upon her friend Sue Massi, who shared her passion for saving strays, and they hurried to the location where they met an animal control officer from Buncombe County.
Working together, they gently guided the dog into a vehicle and brought her to the shelter. Cortez expressed hope that the food, warm blanket, and affection she provided could help restore the dog’s faith in humanity after humans had let her down. Within a few days, however, Cassie, as she was named, seemed to have regained her happiness. After being cleaned up, she appeared to be a completely different dog in comparison to her previous state. According to Cortez, the photo of Cassie after her transformation was amazing, and it warmed her heart. In the near future, Cassie will be searching for a permanent home. Would you consider adopting her? Take a look at Cassie’s shelter profile here.
According to Cortez, there are endless opportunities available. For instance, what if he had chosen to ignore the cold, hungry dog and continued driving? The dog could have met a tragic end, such as freezing to death or getting hit by a vehicle. Fortunately, it is not difficult to locate an animal shelter that would welcome the dog.