When Rebecca Van Schepen arrived for work at the Kentucky Humane Society (KHS) one morning in early June, she noticed a figure sitting just outside the door.
At first, she was confused, but as she got closer, she saw the desperate, sweet face of a furry pup in need of help.
The pup, later named Cowboy, was curled up on an Amazon delivery bag outside the shelter door. As he tried to rise to greet Van Schepen, she saw that his leg was badly injured.
Security footage revealed that someone had abandoned him there at 7:30 p.m. the night before. Van Schepen had arrived for work at 7 a.m., meaning poor Cowboy had been waiting for over 11 hours, hoping someone would come to his rescue.
“Security camera footage showed that he never moved from the Amazon delivery bag the entire night,” Ally Duncan, PR and marketing coordinator at KHS, told The Dodo. “Despite his injuries, he had hope-filled eyes and was eager to crawl into Rebecca’s lap for love when she arrived.”
A Tough Challenge
Though Cowboy was in excruciating pain, he didn’t let that stop him from showing his new friends at the shelter just how grateful he was to finally be safe.
Unfortunately, his leg was too severely damaged to be saved, and the veterinary team performed an emergency amputation. They feared how Cowboy would react to the loss of his leg, but he showed an unwavering resilience.
“After the amputation, he was placed on cage rest for a few days to make sure the stitches healed properly,” Duncan explained. “We saw a shift in his mood almost immediately. Cowboy transitioned to life with three legs beautifully!”
Cowboy’s Remarkable Recovery and Adoption
As Cowboy healed, he eagerly soaked up all the attention he could get from his shelter friends. Everyone who met him couldn’t help but fall in love with his sweet nature, amazed by how quickly he bounced back after everything he had been through.
“Cowboy is affectionate, playful, and has never met a stranger,” Duncan said. “During his time at KHS, Cowboy snuggled and kissed staff members, spreading joy everywhere he went. He was truly a breath of fresh air!”
Cowboy has since been adopted and is loving every minute of his new life in a forever home. His new family can’t imagine life without him, and they’re thrilled to see him thriving.
“His new family says, ‘He fits into our family like a piece of a missing puzzle,’” Duncan shared. “We are absolutely thrilled that we were able to help Cowboy and help him find his perfect home!”