A cold, skinny pit bull mix, curled up on a bus bench in Chicago, was desperate for rest, but he couldn’t stop shivering. The bitter wind bit at his fragile body as he coughed uncontrollably, his condition a clear sign that he had been struggling for some time.
The dog, later named Parker, had been abandoned and left to fend for himself in the harsh elements. Fortunately, a kind-hearted passerby noticed his plight and decided to intervene. The Good Samaritan brought Parker in from the cold and delivered him to Chicago Animal Care and Control, where he was put on a stray hold.
Upon arrival, it was apparent that Parker was in poor health. He had red, patchy skin and was suffering from kennel cough, a respiratory illness common in shelter dogs. His condition made it clear that he had been living on the streets for quite a while.
Many dogs in such circumstances often go unnoticed and are left to languish in shelters, but Parker’s story caught the attention of social media users, and soon his picture was circulating online. One Tail at a Time, a local rescue organization, saw Parker’s plight and knew they had to act quickly. As soon as his stray hold expired, they stepped in to give him a second chance.
“For so many dogs that could be the end… but not for Parker,” One Tail at a Time shared on Facebook. “Parker is about to learn what it means to be safe, to be loved, to be warm, to be healthy, and with any luck, to be adopted.”
In his foster home, Parker began to flourish. It quickly became apparent that he had once been a loved pet, as he was house-trained, well-behaved on a leash, and didn’t mind being kenneled. Although he was still recovering from his illness, Parker showed gratitude for his newfound safety and comfort.
“Parker is still getting over his kennel cough but luckily got on medicine quickly and is in a loving foster home to recover,” Kimberly Thomas, marketing manager for One Tail at a Time, told The Dodo. “He tolerates his baths and medicine well and loves to play. Parker is still active, and his foster calls him ‘a total goober.’ He loves napping on the couch (especially right by his foster’s legs) and doesn’t mind wearing jammies to help with his itchy skin.”
Parker has quickly won the hearts of everyone he meets, eager to play or snuggle with his foster family. As he continues to recover, it’s clear that Parker’s journey is far from over—he is now on his way to becoming a beloved pet once again.
“Once his medicated baths and CRID medicine are completed, he will be scheduled for neuter surgery and then become adoptable,” Thomas said.
Parker’s story is a reminder that even the most abandoned dogs can find a new chance at life with love and care.
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