Kind woman rescues abandoned dog from a freezing cold landfill, he goes from the growliest to the happiest: ‘The way his ears perked up a little when you said home!’

Author image for Elna McHilderson
Elna McHilderson • Managing Editor
Dec 18, 2025 7:00 PM EST

We love an animal glow-up, especially when it's a creature who deserve the best life ever. This time it is a sweet doggo who is now named DeSoto. He was found in a landfill in freezing cold temperatures. The woman trying to rescue him was afraid he wouldn't survive another freezing cold night there. So she went to work. Even though he growled and barked and pinned his ears back the closer she got, she still tried. She took her time, was patient with the growly man, and just let him move around and slowly start to trust her. She gave him treats, which lured him a little close. Eventually, his barks and growls turns to quieter growls with no barks and she knew she had to act fast. While he was eating, she was able to leash him. 

 

Though he looked confused and still a little scared, he seemed to start to trust her. Eventually, she got on his level and he slowly trotted closer to her. He got close enough for her to pet him and you can see in his eyes the processing of pets. He decided it felt nice and that this woman was good, and got close. In fact, he didn't want to leave her side. He got close enough to cuddle and get more pets and she was able to take him back to her shelter and provide him with all of that. Now he's living his best life as he awaits adoption and getting to witness his glow-up and new found love for life is a beautiful privilege and inspirational to all. Let's go, DeSoto! 

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  • *growling & barking*
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  • *still growling*
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  • *still growling*
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  • *processing pets*
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  • "Did you say home?"
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  • "ok, I'm ready to go home."
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  • WATCH:

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  • shininglightanimalrescue Today we brought home the landfill dog — and we are so happy to say his name is DeSoto. The name DeSoto is rooted in the meaning of endurance, survival, and the journey forward, and it feels especially fitting for this boy. DeSoto has been living at a landfill since summer of 2024, navigating heat, storms, and rough terrain on his own. With winter approaching, we knew it was time to step in and give him the care, warmth, and love he deserves.
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  • DeSoto is understandably sore and tired from life on the landfill. His hips appear stiff, likely from age, old injury, or the physical demands of climbing hills day after day. His ears show signs of old, healed hematomas, his face is swollen, and he's dehydrated with low muscle tone. Despite all of this, DeSoto has already shown us how gentle, resilient, and loving he is. We'll be calling the vet first thing tomorrow to get him fully checked out and on a plan to help him feel his best.
    via shininglightanimalrescue
  • This video is being shared raw - no filters, no heavy editing — just shortened to fit the time limit. If you watch from start to finish, you'll see something truly special: the transformation from a dog in full survival mode to a dog who realizes, within the same day, that he is safe. It has completely melted our hearts. We're so excited to walk alongside DeSoto as he heals, decompresses, and eventually finds the forever family who will spoil him endlessly. Welcome home, DeSoto
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