Left in a Broken Crate to Die, This Dog Chose to Live Instead
The sun beat down on a dirty, overturned pet crate baking on a sidewalk near a dry creek bed in San Antonio, Texas. It was nearly 100 degrees. Cars passed without a glance — until one person finally looked inside.
There, curled up on hard plastic, was a tiny, silent dog.
An anonymous caller alerted the City of San Antonio Animal Care Services (SAACS). Officer Garza arrived to find the crate missing a door, coated in grime. Inside, a small dog — later named Leo — lay motionless, his thin body covered in fleas and ticks. He didn’t lift his head. Only his eyes moved, quietly watching as help finally arrived.
“Leo would scurry to the back of the crate and make himself as small as he could,” SAACS public relations manager Lisa Norwood said. “Our initial thought was that he’d been hit by a car.”
Garza gently used the crate as a makeshift stretcher and loaded Leo into his air-conditioned truck. As the cool air filled the cab, Leo finally lifted his head.
At the SAACS clinic, Leo was cleaned, treated for parasites, and given food — though he wouldn’t eat. He didn’t move unless someone reached toward him. Then, he would shrink away.
“Obviously, life had been unkind,” Norwood said. “Maybe people had been unkind to him. He was very, very shy and scared.”
That’s when one of SAACS’ rescue partners, SNIPSA, stepped in. They gave Leo a new name — Arroyo, the Spanish word for “dry creek” — and a new chance at life.
“They said, ‘Okay, we’re going to get you this new life, buddy,’” Norwood recalled.
Soon, Arroyo was safe in a foster home. Gone were the sharp edges of a hard crate; in their place, a soft bed, cozy blanket, and toys. For the first time in a long time, Arroyo was surrounded by comfort.
And it didn’t take long for his gentle heart to begin to shine.
He started allowing soft pets. He accepted food straight from his foster’s hand. Day by day, Arroyo began to trust.
“When Officer Garza found him, he thought this dog had been hit by a car — or worse, dumped to die,” Norwood said. “But Arroyo had other plans.”
Now, just a short time later, someone has already applied to adopt Arroyo and give him the home he’s always deserved. No more crates. No more fear. Just love.