When rescuers arrived in Central California, they expected a difficult dog rescue. What they got was a tangled story involving three frightened animals and one very persistent cheeseburger.
Mickey, the dog at the center of it all, had been living under a car. When he was just a puppy, someone tied a string around his neck. As he grew, the string tightened and eventually embedded into his skin. By the time help arrived, it was painful and dangerous.
With him were Minnie, a shy dog who had likely never worn a leash, and Mortimer, a sick street cat who looked rough and was later diagnosed with FIV.
Mickey was terrified, but the rescuer used food and patience to guide him into a safe trap. Minnie took a little more work and freaked out once caught, unsure of what was happening. Then there was Mortimer, who boldly stole the bait and made trapping him a whole new challenge. It took a bit of luck and quick thinking to catch the clever cat without injury.
The rescuer made a long drive to CARES, and even though the vet had already gone home for the day, she came back just for Mickey. His neck wound was serious, but treatable, and he is now on the path to healing.
Minnie and Mortimer are also getting the care they need, and for the first time in their lives, all three animals are safe.
This rescue had cheeseburgers, chaos, and a lot of heart. Share it with someone who loves happy endings for animals who never gave up.