His name is Stu, and he was found in a condition no dog should ever experience. This is his story.
Stray Rescue of St. Louis took Stu into their care after he was found left behind in a crate in an abandoned house.
Not only was he cruelly abandoned by someone who was supposed to be his family, but he was also left in a state where he had no choice but to lie in his own filth for who knows how long.
Severely emaciated and dehydrated, this poor pup struggled to stay alive.
Struggling For Life
The healthy weight for an adult St. Bernard is between 120 and 180 pounds, but Stu was nowhere near that number.
Stu, an adult St. Bernard, weighed only 43 pounds and was starving.
The rescue team found him in a dire state, tragically soaked in urine, severely emaciated, dehydrated, and too weak to even lift his own head.
“When he arrived, we washed him, got his body temperature up, got him on fluids and fed him a small meal. His body was craving calories and nutrients. That first night was scary – we didn’t know if he would make it,” Stray Rescue of St. Louis wrote in their post.
His blood work was all over the place, and all they could do was hope and pray for him to survive the night.
This was his first meal in the shelter, and quite possibly his first in a very long time:
Stu proved to be a great fighter with incredible determination after all.
Not only did he make it through the night, but he also greeted his rescuers the next morning with a wagging tail and kisses.
In a remarkable turn, he even stood up and walked to greet everyone, sparking hope that he would be able to recover.
He just needed food, nutrients, and time. Oh, and love, of course.
Leaving The Building
With each passing day, Stu showed gradual improvement, but the journey to full recovery was still a long one.
Despite everything he had been through, he was still very gentle and caring. His gentle demeanor captured the hearts of all the staff and volunteers, including thousands of people all over the world.
The outpouring of support and love for Stu from many people enabled the rescue staff to swiftly secure an incredible foster home for him.
After only a couple of days at the clinic, Stu was able to leave the building and continue treatment in a home where he can rest peacefully and stretch his legs a bit.
“This sweet family grew up with St. Bernards and can’t wait to help him gain weight. He went home with our front desk manager’s mom, so he is still in the family and will continue to post lots of updates as he continues his healing journey! He has to come back twice a week for check-ups,” the St. Louis rescue wrote.
Since coming to the foster home, Stu has already gained 20 pounds! He still has an upset tummy, but he is doing much better and eating well.
He even discovered his love for tennis balls. When he’s not napping or resting, you’ll probably find him gnawing on his ball, which is awesome.
The latest update confirms that Stu is doing so much better. He still has some tummy trouble and takes a lot of naps, but his energy is improving.
“He is such a love bug. If you stop petting him, he nibbles on you until you give him more attention. He is being treated like royalty and thinks he’s a lapdog! Stu buddy, that’s ok for now, until you get to a healthy weight — Then you might smoosh someone,” the rescue wrote.
Follow Stray Rescue of St. Louis for more updates on Stu, the warrior!
