Starving three-legged dog found next to motel by Indiana janitor who at first couldn’t keep her but soon fell in love with her noodling ways, dog dad says: ‘We call her Noodle, due to her stubborn deadweight approach to anything she’s not pumped about.’

Laurent Shinar • Writer and Editor

Jun 25, 2026 9:00 AM EDT

Just because you have found a dog who has been abandoned does not automatically mean you have intentions of keeping them, even if the act of saving them sure does do a number on your ability to stay strong and not adopt them. But as you'll come to find in this story, some doggos are simply too delightful not to adopt.

Reddit's r/bloomington subreddit is a place for the many visitors and locals of Bloomington, Indiana to ask for recommendations and post about their vacations, it is not the place you would expect to find a story about a three legged doggo who had been dumped by a motel. But that is the way we came to find out about this sweet survivor of a pupper who acted fast, chose their hooman and within a matter of minutes found themselves being transported to what would become their furever home. A story of doggo rescue that would easily stand shoulder to shoulder with some of the legendary rescue dog stories on other subreddits.

However, like any good tale this one has a challenge that both hooman and doggo would have to overcome together in order to succeed. In this case it was that the pawrent was not set on keeping the canine in case a better or more deserving home could be found. But with time they came to realize that there was no better home and the simple fact that they cared enough about this tripod dog they didn't know, standing on the street scared, is the central reason that they were destined to be this pupper's pawrent all along. Sometimes in this life you cannot see what is sitting right under your nose, thankfully this pawrent woke up and smelled the doggo before making a terrible mistake and rehoming her.

01

via grumblefluff
02

via grumblefluff
03

via grumblefluff
04

via grumblefluff
05

via grumblefluff
06

via grumblefluff
07

via grumblefluff
Well, we can tell that his hooman is not familiar with the doggo distribution system as all the signs of a DDS drop off are there. To begin with you have a dog who willingly, without any extra prompting, effort or treats just hopped into a stranger’s car. Then you add to that the overall good health and amazing temperament and you have the makings of a pawfect pupper, who seemingly just found itself plonked in your lap. Classic DDS style work right there. Truly, this story could have ended here and we would all be very happy to hear of another pupper saved from the streets but there is even more canine cuteness coming up.
08

via grumblefluff
09

via grumblefluff
10

via grumblefluff
11

via grumblefluff
12

via grumblefluff
13

via grumblefluff
14

via grumblefluff
15

via grumblefluff
16

via grumblefluff
Honestly, it is a lot to handle the wholesomeness of this story. The plight of a three-legged dog is one that breaks the heart the instant you hear about it. And more often than not a sweet pupper missing one of their lovely legs will not get far in life as most people prefer their pupper’s with four. But the truth is that three legs do not break a doggo and they are completely capable of enjoying their life with one leg missing. And it is so heart-filling to hear about a case in which the amount of legs this doggo has did not come into question even once. All their rescuer cared about was that they are happy, healthy and full of love and light.
17

via grumblefluff
18

via grumblefluff
19

via grumblefluff
20

via grumblefluff
21

via grumblefluff
22

via grumblefluff