One night, employees at a public cemetery in Missouri (USA) were puzzled by a small shadow moving between the tombstones, as if it were a figure.
When they got closer to investigate, they soon became calmer: the shadow was anything but a ghost! In fact, it was just a lost dog, looking for a shelter to sleep in that serenity.
The next morning, employees there captured the animal and asked the NGO Stray Rescue of St. Louis for support, as it did not appear to be in good health.
In fact, the dog had a delicate skin disease, had lost much of its hair and whimpered in pain whenever it was touched by someone.
According to Donna Lochmann, a volunteer at the shelter, many stray puppies go to the cemetery in search of a place to sleep.
“They just go under the fence and try to stay there, knowing it’s a quiet place,” Donna said. “It’s a huge cemetery, so they have a lot of space to get away from people.”
But every stray dog deserves adequate shelter. That’s why Donna and her team rescued the furry friend and sent him to a veterinarian urgently.
There he was named “Kamper”, in honor of one of the tombstones in the cemetery where he was found.
Kamper received appropriate treatment to heal his skin and foot wounds, caused by scabies. With the disease contained, his fur grew back and he stopped feeling pain.
When the little dog finally started to feel better, his caretakers decided to bring him back to the cemetery to see the cemetery workers again.
“It was very emotional for everyone, especially Kamper and the volunteer who called us,” Donna said.
As soon as Kamper saw the cemetery workers again, his face lit up! He ran towards each of them and planted giant kisses of gratitude on all of their faces.
And the cemetery staff was excited to see him too:
“The woman who called was so happy that we got him and that he was doing so well,” Donna said. “For our part, we certainly appreciate her reaching out to us so he could get some help.”
After some tears and a few good ‘licks’, Kamper said goodbye to his friends at the cemetery. He returned to the shelter, but didn’t stay there long.
Luckily for Kamper, the shelter was able to find him a loving foster home a few days later. In addition to receiving routine medicated baths and a new set of pajamas to protect his healing skin, the furry friend was able to play with his new dog brothers while he waited for a home.
“It’s so fun to watch him play and be happy, knowing he’s no longer this sick, scared dog trying to survive on the streets,” Donna said. “Now he can just be a puppy.”
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