Abandoned, Paralyzed, and Left to Die — Trooper the Shih Tzu Is Fighting for Her Life After Unimaginable Neglect
She was left alone, motionless on a Boca Raton sidewalk — matted, covered in filth, and literally glued to the ground by her own feces.
For an unknown amount of time, this tiny Shih Tzu, now named Trooper, lay there — waiting, suffering, and silently fading away — until a group of passersby spotted her off Yamato Road and called for help.
What rescuers found was beyond heartbreaking.
“This could not have happened overnight,” said Suzi Goldsmith, Executive Director and Co-founder of Tri County Animal Rescue (TCAR). “How long was it going on? How long does she have? Did she get to us in time?”
Trooper was rushed to Tri County Animal Rescue, where staff immediately began working to save her fragile life.
A Body Broken by Neglect
After hours of careful grooming, Keto shampoo baths, and dozens of diagnostic tests, the truth emerged — and it was horrifying.
Trooper was suffering from 22 separate medical conditions. Her list of ailments included paralysis, a heart murmur, corneal ulcers, worms, severe periodontal disease, ear infections, and a urinary tract infection. Her skin was burned by prolonged exposure to urine and feces.
She had been used for breeding — likely her entire life — and discarded when her frail body could no longer produce puppies. Whether she escaped a cage or was simply dumped like garbage, no one knows.
“She was literally stuck to the ground,” Goldsmith said. “Someone just threw her away when she was no longer useful.”
Despite the unimaginable pain she’s endured, Trooper has shown the one thing that continues to amaze rescuers — a will to live.
A Flicker of Hope
The rescue team named her Trooper, a symbol of the strength and courage she continues to show every single day.
Photos shared by Tri County Animal Rescue show the little Shih Tzu in a staff member’s arms — weak but smiling. Her eyes, though tired, seem to hold the faint glow of hope.
“She’s been through hell,” Goldsmith said. “But when you hold her, she leans in and wags her tail. She’s forgiving, loving, and still wants to live.”
Trooper’s recovery will take time — and it’s uncertain how much her small body can endure — but every gentle bath, every warm meal, and every loving hand brings her one step closer to comfort and peace.
Not the First, and Sadly Not the Last
Tragically, this isn’t the first time Tri County Animal Rescue has seen such cruelty.
Just months earlier, another Shih Tzu, later named Parker, was found after someone threw her over the rescue’s fence in Boca Raton. Parker was covered in maggots, barely able to stand, and on the brink of death.
Miraculously, the team saved her — and she even found a loving home. But despite all the love and care she received, Parker passed away four months later due to the irreversible damage caused by her past abuse.
“Parker and Trooper are the worst I have ever seen,” Goldsmith told the Boca Raton Tribune. “The cruelty these dogs endured is beyond comprehension.”
A Plea for Kindness
Trooper’s battle is not over, but she’s surrounded by a team of people who refuse to give up on her. The rescue continues to share updates, photos, and pleas for awareness — reminding the community that animal cruelty is not only heartbreaking but preventable.
For now, Trooper rests safely in the arms of those who love her. Her body may be broken, but her spirit — that quiet, beautiful will to live — remains unshaken.
Because even after the darkest suffering, some souls refuse to stop shining.