After receiving an urgent call about a severely injured dog, our volunteers immediately set out to search for him. Unfortunately, as night fell, the area became too dark and difficult to navigate, forcing them to pause and resume early the next morning.
At sunrise, they began searching again—walking for hours, speaking to numerous residents, and checking every possible hiding place. But despite their best efforts, the dog they were looking for remained missing. Heartbreakingly, along the way they encountered something that shook them to their core: countless dead dogs, and others still alive but barely hanging on—severely injured, emaciated, covered in mange, and visibly suffering from disease and neglect.
One of those survivors was Fortuno. He appeared to have been wandering for at least two weeks with a serious head, face, and jaw injury. The infection was so severe that the stench was overwhelming, even for our most seasoned rescuers. Fortuno was quickly and gently secured before being rushed to the clinic, where he was immediately placed on IV fluids, heavy pain relief, and strong antibiotics.
Right now, we don’t know if he will make a full recovery—but we do know this: we will be there for him every step of the way. Thanks to our incredible veterinary team and devoted foster carers, Fortuno is getting the best care possible.
Still, our hearts ache and our minds struggle to comprehend this ongoing epidemic of cruelty—an endless cycle of abuse, neglect, and the absence of empathy or compassion. This is not just a rescue issue; this is a crisis that must be addressed at the highest levels of government.