Christmas Eve in St. Louis felt cold and heavy.
The streets were waking up slowly, but something heartbreaking was waiting in the Baden neighborhood.
A sweet soul named Wallace was there, alone and hurting.
He was not barking for attention.
He was not chasing cars or causing trouble.
He was just a scared puppy trying to survive.
Police were called around 8 a.m. for a report of a dog bite.
But when Officer Landon Jordan arrived, he found something far worse.
He saw blood.
He saw fear.
And he saw a dog who looked like he had already given up.
Wallace stood there shaking like the world was too loud.
His body was covered in blood that should have never been spilled.
Officer Jordan’s heart dropped the moment he saw him.
He did not know what happened yet.
He only knew the pain was real.
He tried to call Wallace closer.
He spoke gently like you would to a baby.
But Wallace flinched at every movement.
He was scared of hands.
He was scared of footsteps.
He was scared of kindness, because he did not know if kindness was safe.
And still, he stayed.
As if he was begging without words.
As if he was saying, “Please don’t leave me.”
Soon Wallace was taken to Stray Rescue of St. Louis.
Doctors saw the truth right away.
He had been shot.
A bullet hit near his eye, tore through the roof of his mouth, and exited under his chin.
Another bullet ripped through his back leg.
It is hard to picture that kind of cruelty.
It is even harder to accept it happened on Christmas Eve.
The vet, Dr. Edie Oliver, looked at his wounds with a heavy heart.
She said he was lucky.
But it did not feel like luck.
It felt like a miracle that he was still breathing.
He could have lost bones in his mouth.
He could have lost his jaw.
He could have lost his life.
But Wallace held on.
And in the middle of pain, he still had gentle eyes.
Even while shaking, he tried to trust.
Even while bleeding, he still wanted love.
His suffering was real, but his spirit was still shining.
Wallace needed surgery to repair his mouth.
The medical team treated him carefully, like he mattered.
They did not see “just a stray.”
They saw a life.
They saw a sweet soul who deserved safety.
Days passed.
Then more days passed.
And Wallace began to change.
His pain was clear.
But his tail started to wag again.
He would look up at people and lean closer.
He would accept soft voices.
He would allow gentle hands.
Dr. Oliver said he was still sweet through it all.
That kind of goodness can make you cry.
Because no one should hurt an animal like that.
Yet Wallace did not turn angry.
He did not grow mean.
He just wanted to be near humans.
He just wanted to feel safe.
Dr. Oliver said gunshot cases are always serious.
Even small wounds can hide deep damage.
And Wallace had deep damage.
His mouth would take time.
His body would take time.
But his heart was already reaching out again.
It was as if he was searching for safe arms.
Two officers were called in to help follow leads.
Their names were Jessica Ottengheime and Brett Stevens.
They care deeply about animal abuse cases.
When they arrived and saw Wallace, they were shaken.
Officer Stevens remembered the blood on his face.
He remembered a small line like a teardrop.
He remembered Wallace’s lip puffed out from injury.
He remembered the way Wallace cowered.
And he remembered the look in his eyes.
That look that says, “I’m scared, but I need you.”
He said it broke their hearts.
Because Wallace was not threatening anyone.
He was not doing anything wrong.
He was simply existing.
And someone treated that as a reason to shoot him.
The officers recovered shell cases near where he was found.
They started following leads.
They promised they would not ignore this.
Officer Ottengheime said they work hard on animal abuse cases.
They push for arrests.
They push for felony charges.
Because animals cannot speak for themselves.
So humans must speak for them.
Wallace was not just evidence, he was a living soul.
Dr. Oliver said cases like this happen more than people know.
She said if no one shares these stories, the public never sees the truth.
Wallace was not alone in this kind of suffering.
Another dog named Twinkie was also shot not long before.
That dog was shot in the jaw.
She needed a major repair too.
This is why Stray Rescue keeps fighting.
They see the worst sides of people.
But they also see the best.
Because for every cruel act, there are also rescuers and donors.
There are officers who care.
There are strangers who step up.
Wallace seemed to be a stray the neighborhood knew.
No microchip was found.
No owner was found.
No one knew where he truly came from.
But he was so friendly.
So social.
So eager to be close.
It made people wonder if he once had a home.
Maybe someone once held him.
Maybe someone once called him a good boy.
Maybe he once slept near warm feet.
Then something changed.
And he ended up alone outside.
And Christmas Eve became the day his life shattered.
Now Wallace is recovering.
He is safe.
He is warm.
He is being cared for with love and patience.
But he still needs more medical help.
His mouth needs time to heal.
In about a week, they plan to sedate him again.
They will look carefully to make sure everything is closing the right way.
Then he will need to be neutered.
Then, if all goes well, he will be ready for adoption.
Imagine that.
After being shot, after suffering so much, Wallace still may get a home.
A real home.
A soft bed.
A full bowl.
A gentle voice saying his name.
A family that will never let him be hurt again.
The rescue is asking for help with his care.
Donations can keep his healing going.
And anyone with information is asked to contact CrimeStoppers.
Because Wallace deserves justice too.
But most of all, Wallace deserves love.
And this sweet soul has already proven he knows how to give it.