stetson

🤎🐾 STETSON 🐾🤎

“Sometimes, all it takes is one person to change everything.”

Somewhere in Moultrie, Georgia, two college students stopped at McDonald's.

They had no idea that before they got back in their car, they would meet a dog who would change the course of their entire day — and possibly his entire life.

They witnessed five dogs attacking Stetson.

They tried to intervene, but the dogs wouldn't stop. Eventually they managed to drive the pack away, and when they reached Stetson, they saw the puncture wounds covering his face and neck.

They could have called someone.

They could have driven away.

They didn't.

They called their parents, put a frightened, injured dog into their car, and drove 14 hours from Georgia to Connecticut because they couldn't bear the thought of leaving him behind.

And that's how Stetson found his way to us.

Now, let us tell you about the Stetson we know today.

That handsome boy who arrived with a face full of wounds has healed. Physically, he's made a wonderful recovery. And emotionally? He's come an awfully long way in a surprisingly short amount of time.

When Stetson first arrived, he had every reason to be wary of the world. What happened to him was terrifying, and it takes time to put that kind of experience behind you. But with care, patience, and a whole lot of love from our staff and volunteers, we've watched this boy find his feet again.

And then came the Blessing of the Animals at the Lutheran Church.

Now, you might expect a dog with Stetson's history to keep a little distance from the animal kingdom. Understandable, right?

Not Stetson.

While waiting in line, he made friends with a SHEEP and a CHICKEN!

Yes, you read that correctly. A sheep and a chicken. Apparently, Stetson has decided that the world has some pretty interesting new friends in it.

He is still a little leery of some dogs, and we respect that. After what he experienced, he deserves thoughtful introductions and the opportunity to decide who he feels comfortable around. But his progress has been remarkable, and we're not going to overlook just how far he's come.

We LOVE this dog. And we're certainly not the only ones. The young couple who drove all those hours from Georgia to give him a chance loved him enough to change his entire future. We think about that kindness often.

Stetson is living proof that a terrible experience doesn't have to define the rest of a dog's life.

He is no longer the injured dog from that Georgia parking lot. He's a handsome, recovering, increasingly confident young man who is discovering that life can be pretty wonderful after all.

We believe love heals. Stetson is showing us what that looks like.

Now it's time for his next chapter.

A home where he can continue to grow in confidence. People who will appreciate him for the wonderful dog he is. A soft place to land, a little patience when he needs it, and plenty of reasons to keep trusting the world.

The two students who rescued him gave Stetson his second chance.

We got to watch him heal.

Now we'd love to see him get the happy ending he's worked so hard for.

Because this story was never meant to be about the five dogs who attacked him.

It's about the two people who stopped, the people who cared for him, and one very special dog who found his way back to happiness.

Stetson has come a long way. And the best part of his story is still ahead. 🤎🐾