A Texas-based rescue organization, Three Little Pitties Rescue, was tagged in a Facebook post about a dog abandoned under a freeway overpass.
However, due to language barriers and unclear location details, the exact whereabouts of the dog remained uncertain.
Despite the challenge, Lindsey, one of the rescuers, set out with the hope of finding the abandoned dog.
After searching, she finally spotted her and immediately called for additional help from three other rescuers to save the terrified and injured pup.
The Rescue Mission
The moment Lindsey laid eyes on the dog, she knew something was horribly wrong.
“From the first angle, it looked like her foot had been completely chopped off,” she recalled.
No one knew how long the dog had been there or how she had been injured, but it was clear that she had been badly mistreated.
The rescuers suspected she might have been injured while being dumped or thrown from a vehicle.
The pain in her eyes told the story—this poor girl had endured unimaginable suffering. She was exhausted, both physically and emotionally.
As Lindsey looked at the dog under the overpass, many questions swirled in her mind: “How long had she been here? How long had she been suffering?”
But the most pressing task was to help her as quickly as possible.
It took the rescuers about 30 minutes to get her comfortable enough to move. She could barely move on her own due to the extreme pain.
Although she was scared and crying, she managed to wag her tail once she began to trust her rescuers.
Rushing to the Vet
Since it was late at night, they rushed her to an emergency vet.
As they drove the sweet pit bull, now named Lucie Caboose, to the emergency clinic in Galveston, TX, her condition worsened, and the pain became even more unbearable.
“I heard her cry, and it was so sad and pitiful,” Lindsey said.
At the vet, Lucie was diagnosed with Pyometra, a life-threatening uterine infection caused by not being spayed.
On top of that, she was battling multiple severe infections affecting her heart, liver, kidneys, and foot, and she had advanced heartworm. Strong antibiotics were prescribed to help her fight these infections.
The Struggle for Survival
Due to her weakened heart, Lucie wasn’t strong enough for surgery. Some days, it seemed like she was improving, but then her condition would deteriorate again.
Lucie fought valiantly for her life, but the infections became too much for her.
After more than $6,000 in medical care and several weeks in the animal hospital, the infection had spread to her bones and bloodstream.
“She passed away peacefully, surrounded by so much love that I hope she felt. She deserved so much more,” the rescue wrote in a heartfelt Facebook post.
A Heartbreaking Goodbye
Despite their best efforts, Lucie’s pain was too much for her fragile body to endure.
Though she couldn’t be saved, she was at least surrounded by people who cared for her deeply in her final days.
“Lucie, we’re so sorry this happened to you. We’re sorry your owners failed you. We’re sorry we couldn’t save you. We tried so hard, and we loved you. Your life mattered,” the rescue wrote.
A Reminder for Us All
Lucie’s story is a powerful reminder of the countless animals abandoned and mistreated.
In Texas, shelters are overwhelmed with animals, and cases like Lucie’s happen far too often.
Let Lucie’s story serve as a lesson—no dog should ever endure such suffering. No animal should be left in pain.
Lucie, we hope you’re finally free from pain and at peace.