Man Finds An Abandoned And Starving Puppy That Terrified Of Humans In A Cave And Rescues It, Ensuring It will Never Suffer Again

Author image for Mariel Ruvinsky
Mariel Ruvinsky • Writer and Editor
Apr 7, 2024 11:00 AM EDT

Not every dog adoption story is the same. Some of us plan for weeks or months, sometimes years, which dog to adopt and where from and exactly how to prepare for it. And others… come across their new best friend in the most unexpected ways. Some of us rescue stray dogs found wandering around in parks or on the streets, some of us find abandoned puppies in the woods that need help, and some of us have to break into our neighbor's house to rescue their dog that was left outside in the rain for days. 

And then, there's today's story, of a man finding a puppy that was abandoned and left to fend for itself. The puppy found itself a little cave to hide in and was completely terrified of humans, but these kind people did not give up on it, and we are so thankful for that.

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to start your Caturday with the funniest felines on the internet!

Add as a preferred
source on Google
Advertisement
  • 01
    Niall Harbison @NiallHarbison Subscribe This little puppy was dumped and alone living in a cave. Heard about him this morning at 5am. A beautiful result for little Sandy. Not easy but had to be done as we have severe heat weather alerts here at the moment. 3 months old and alone the poor little thing.
    via @NiallHarbison

    It's always so awful to hear stories of animals being abandoned, but seeing it is somehow even worse. We can only say thank you to people like these - people who love animals so much that they are willing to put in so much time and so much effort into saving them. So that's what we're doing. Saying thank you. 

  • 02
    This 3 month old puppy had been dumped alone. We had to race to save him...
    via @NiallHarbison

    Our hope is that seeing this story and the amazing transformation that this pup made will inspire more people to do the same - to help. We hope that because of this story, next time someone passes by an animal in distress, they will do what this man did and save it. 

  • 03
    He was searching for scraps of food. None of the other dogs would accept him...
    via @NiallHarbison
  • 04
    I tracked him for an hour and found his safe place. A little cave by the water...
    via @NiallHarbison
  • 05
    He was terrified of humans. But we weren't leaving without this little boy...
    via @NiallHarbison
  • 06
    Niall Harbison @NiallHarbison Subscribe There was some serious drama when I thought I'd lost him earlier just after his big clean up. He wasn't in the little fort we'd built for him. Thought he'd jumped the window and made a run for it. Found him 10 mins later down the back of the couch II 0:03
    via @NiallHarbison
  • 07
    Cheezburger Image 9906021632
    via @NiallHarbison
  • 08
    Niall Harbison @NiallHarbison Subscribe We'll let him decompress now for a couple of days and get a mum type dog in with him. He's so small and you can imagine how stressful catching him life this is. I always wish i could tell them it's for their own good. Very awkward under rocks climbing around to not get bitten. He is not aggressive in slightest but he was trying to bite in defense. Double towels are the best protection in this awkward scenario after got the lead on him
    via @NiallHarbison
  • 09
    Cheezburger Image 9906023168
    via @NiallHarbison
  • 10
    Cheezburger Image 9906024448
    via @NiallHarbison
  • 11
    Cheezburger Image 9906024192
    via @NiallHarbison
  • 12
    Mckelly Where Quality Mallers Gold Real Mes Hey D
    via @NiallHarbison
  • 13
    Niall Harbison @NiallHarbison Subscribe ... All is well that ends well for little Sandy. He'll be staying here and will never be back on the streets again. Unconfirmed rumors that he is Billy's great great nephew based on his ears
    via @NiallHarbison
  • 14
    Cheezburger Image 9906023680
    via @NiallHarbison
  • 15
    Cheezburger Image 9906025216
    via @NiallHarbison
  • 16
    Niall Harbison @NiallHarbison Subscribe Today was one of the most stressful mornings ever. A typical day helping street dogs After saving little Sandy in a dramatic rescue yesterday this morning he vanished. We'd built him a fort and left him safe and sound but he was gone at 6am. (1/7) I II 0:03
    via @NiallHarbison
  • 17
    Niall Harbison @NiallHarbison Subscribe It was a complete mistake on our behalf. You can see a tiny hole at the bottom. We put him in a suite with a hole and no wire covering it. Yesterday was hectic, lots of dogs came and left, we were tired. We made a big mistake and little Sandy was gone. He'd wiggled out (2/7) 11:08 AM - Apr 5, 2024 - 71K Views
    via @NiallHarbison
  • 18
    Niall Harbison @NiallHarbison Subscribe Everyone swung into action. 5 of us scoured the jungle and local areas on bikes. After 3 hours looking we knew it was too hot so had to give up. I was thinking this was the last Is see of him. You start to blame yourself so much... (3/7) Valerria I walk my dogs fast and will come Sybille sorry, cannot come hope you find him! Lana 07:07 I'll help when I arrive! 07:07 Zoé I'll be there in 15 mins 07:10 Jewells @Lana @Valerria @Zoé please keep your eye out on
    via @NiallHarbison
  • 19
    Niall Harbison @NiallHarbison Subscribe With the weather too hot to search the head starts swirling... How long can he survive alone in this record heat What to say to all the people asking how he was today Delete the video showing his initial rescue? ⚫⚫ How could i get 20 people to search in the evening It was not a fun few hours. Needless to say nothing else got done (4/7)
    via @NiallHarbison
  • 20
    Niall Harbison @NiallHarbison Subscribe That's when we got a lucky break. Little Eve started barking madly at bushes. It's a very specific bark that is normally about a snake. She wouldn't stop barking and when we got over there sure enough. Sandy was there... (5/7)
    via @NiallHarbison
  • 21
    Niall Harbison @NiallHarbison Subscribe It took us about an hour to catch him in the deep jungle. We were lucky he was tired, hungry and hot so he had no energy left to run. Despite 5 of us covering miles this morning in huge search he'd barely gone 50 yards from home. (6/7) II 0:23 . • 11:25 AM - Apr 5, 2024 91.9K Views
    via @NiallHarbison
  • 22
    Niall Harbison @NiallHarbison Subscribe It doesn't seem stressful after the fact but that was a horrible 5-6 hours. Looking after so many dogs is stressful and mistakes happen. This also explains why it's so hard to get the big picture stuff done sometimes. Everything had to be put on hold to find Sandy (7/7) II 0:23 11:28 AM - Apr 5, 2024 - 89.5K Views
    via @NiallHarbison
  • 23
    Niall Harbison @NiallHarbison Subscribe An update on little Sandy who was living alone in a cave just a couple of days ago. He is still very nervous and decompressing and trying to understand his new world. Sandy is having a very good day at his own pace (1/5) I . 10:46 AM • Apr 6, 2024 · 1.4M Views 305 1.8K 28K 497
    via @NiallHarbison
  • 24
    Cheezburger Image 9906029056
    via @NiallHarbison
  • 25
    Niall Harbison @NiallHarbison Subscribe It's important to remember Sandy has been taken away from his mother, dumped alone on a beach without food and water and had big scary humans come and catch him. It was a traumatic last 2-3 days for him so he has a lot to process. There will be no rush (2/5) II 0:03 10:50 AM ⚫ Apr 6, 2024 84.1K Views D
    via @NiallHarbison
  • 26
    Niall Harbison @NiallHarbison Subscribe Sandy doesn't like new things. His default place is to hide behind sofas, boxes, trees or anything he can find. I just let him for now as he has a lot to process. (3/5)
    via @NiallHarbison
  • 27
    Niall Harbison @NiallHarbison Subscribe Sandy loves his little suite with his comfy bed. He knows it's safe in there, food is delivered and he has water and can catch up on his sleep. That's his little safe spot and you can see his whole body relax there (4/5) II 0:08 10:55 AM Apr 6, 2024 103.8K Views
    via @NiallHarbison
  • 28
    Niall Harbison @NiallHarbison Subscribe Sandy likes being carried and is very gentle. Much too soft to have ever made it on the streets. His teeth show he is about 3 months old absolute max. Tomorrow I'll be a nice gentle dog friend and a bandana. Today Sandy says he's happy to be safe and sleep more (5/5)
    via @NiallHarbison

Check out our Instagram for more hilarious animal content!

Love our stuff? Shop for some of our pawsome merch here.

Tags

aww wholesome dogs adorable heartwarming stuck cute doggo cave rescue
Scroll Down For The Next Article