Courageous person rescues stray puppy trapped on a highway only to have the animal shelter refuse service to them based on a technicality: 'I thought I was being a good samaritan' '

Author image for Blake Seidel
Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager
May 3, 2025 9:00 AM EDT

Howdy, friends and fam of the animal community. We willingly give a round of appaws to anyone who goes out of their way to rescue an animal in need. Whether it's something super cool like saving a lion cub abandoned by its mother or finding a litter of puppies on a construction site, you deserve to be thanked for the wholesome goodness you do out of the kindness of your heart. You would think that a good deed results in a good action, right? Well, wrong. Unfortunately, the world doesn't always work the way you think it should.

After saving a stray puppy from a busy highway, this courageous person decided to take the puppy to a shelter, knowing that they could give them a better life in the future. However, upon arriving at the animal shelter, they refused to take the doggo in based on a technicality - because the highway they found the puppy on was technically outside of city limits, they wouldn't take them. There's more to this story, so scroll down and read it all below!

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  • 01
    PRESS
    via u/Boy-you-crazy
  • 02
    Yesterday I found a puppy in the middle of the highway and scooped him up because he came very close to being run over. I don't usually pick up strays because I live in a city that's notorious for having people dump unwanted animals,
    via u/Boy-you-crazy
  • 03
    figured by the time an animal services officer got out there, he would be de d. Plus, he's a puppy so I figured they'd let him in the shelter simply because he'd be adopted in the blink of an eye.
    via u/Boy-you-crazy
  • 04
    and because our local shelter is no kil, it is full 99.9% of the time. The only reason I grabbed him instead of "calling an officer” like they recommend, was because he was in the middle of a busy highway,
    via u/Boy-you-crazy
  • 05
    Anyway, I brought him to the shelter today and after much hemming and hawing, they said that I could schedule an appointment to drop him off next week. When they asked me where I found him, I was truthful
    via u/Boy-you-crazy
  • 06
    and said I had found him in the highway between my city and another one. I didn't realize this meant that they wouldn't be able to take him at all, and they basically told me he's my problem now since he was technically found outside city
    via u/Boy-you-crazy

  • We have to admit that we are big proponents of white lies. See where telling the truth gets you? Now, we're not saying you should go around lying about everything, but when it comes to silly technicalities, a little white lie can go a long way.

  • 07
    limits. I contacted other shelters in the area and they all had a waiting list so extensive that it could take months to get him in. They suggested I post him on Facebook to see if anyone else wants him.
    via u/Boy-you-crazy
  • 08
    Honestly, I might keep the critter if I could afford to drop $300+ on vaccines, dewormer, a neuter surgery and flea/tick meds without digging into my savings. I'm just not sure what to do. I thought I was being a good Samaritan and now it's become a far bigger issue than I intended.
    via u/Boy-you-crazy
  • 09
    agravedigger Aww, I love him. He looks like a little worm, scooted up into the seat like that. You might be able to sign up as a foster for him, which means the shelter provides supplies and vet care until someone adopts him
    via u/agravedigger
  • 10
    (possibly you after they get neutering and initial vax out of the way) or they find space. Rescues just might not have the physical space to take him in right now.
    via u/agravedigger
  • 11
    Cheezburger Image 10499379712
    via Elena Photo

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • Need another laugh? Subscribe to our newsletter for a weekly serving of the silliest cat content!

  • 12
    Boy-you-crazy UPDATE FOR ANYONE WONDERING: I asked my neighbor if she could take him off my hands and I'm waiting for her to get back to me because she has to ask the other members of her
    via u/Boy-you-crazy
  • 13
    household first. If she can't take him then that'll be my sign that he's mine and I'll keep him, but if she can take him, then I won't have to deal with the associated vet bills. I'll keep looking into the low cost options y'all have linked for me. Thanks y'all.
    via u/Boy-you-crazy
  • 14
    MaxStatic Honestly....you have a dog now. You saved him, he may end up saving you.
    via u/MaxStatic
  • 15
    FallingIntoForever Here our local spca holds low cost vaccination days and low cost spay/neuter appointments several times a year for cats & dogs (separate days). The last time I saw a post about it the
    via u/FallingIntoForever
  • 16
    cost for spay was like $60 (dogs) & neuter was less than that & shots were like around $15 if they needed all necessary ones. Prices also varied if people lived in certain areas and couldn't afford even
    via u/FallingIntoForever
  • 17
    the low cost offers. Their main thing is reducing the population while allowing families to keep their pets. A local feed store in town also has free clinics like once a month where animals can be seen for minor issues.
    via u/FallingIntoForever
  • 18
    All of these things are done by local vets who volunteer their time.
    via u/FallingIntoForever
  • 19
    Kratech I WORK IN A TEXAS SHELTER! see id you can Forster him through them. My shelter if you foster we get all that done vaccines, deworm, rabies, spay/neuter, etc.
    via u/Kratech
  • 20
    See if they would be willing to help you with that if you foster him! If you are willing of course
    via u/Kratech
  • 21
    Cheezburger Image 10499379456
    via Picas Joe from Pexels

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • We hope that this person finds a winning lottery ticket on the ground. Not only did they save a puppy, they are now taking care of one they didn't expect. They deserve some good karma right about now!

  • 22
    galaxy1Staralways You did a good thing keep him if you can he's very cute,I adopted a puppy last July from a animal adoption setup outside of a store in Mandeville Louisiana where I was traveling for a few days I wasn't looking
    via u/galaxy1Staralways
  • 23
    for a new puppy but I adopted him and he's the best and I'm happy I did, you saved that cute puppy if you can't keep him post on social media and look for a shelter that could take him
    via u/galaxy1Staralways
  • 24
    fmlpoodlemom This has happened to me a couple times now. I've rescued animals my whole life but it wasn't until the past few years or so the shelters began punishing you for doing so. I've
    via u/fmlpoodlemom
  • 25
    never been outside jurisdiction or anything but the shelter near me keeps saying they don't have room anymore. Tells me I need to stop picking them up from the road and call animal control instead. I'm with you,
    via u/fmlpoodlemom
  • 26
    though, I'm not going to let some defenseless animal get ran over because of human bureaucracy. I would caution getting involved with a rescue. I had a pretty big rescue in my state put one of the dogs I found down purely because
    via u/fmlpoodlemom
  • 27
    she was a pit mix. She wasn't even 5 months old. I don't know what the answer is tbh. If you can keep her I'd say do it. Even if she doesn't get the "best", it's better than getting put down. Thank you for being a kind human!!
    via u/fmlpoodlemom

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aww refuse wholesome dogs adorable stray dog adoption heartwarming puppy kindhearted courage animal rescue cute animals cute doggo service animal shelter stray animals rescue
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