Stray Dog Found in Missouri With an Arrow Through His Neck — Rescuers Believe He Was Hunted for Fun

A young dog with a heartbreaking past is finally getting his chance at a new life — and a new name that couldn’t be more fitting.

Earlier this year, Stray Rescue of Saint Louis took in a one-year-old puppy who arrived with an arrow brutally lodged in his throat. The rescue shared his shocking story on Facebook, writing:

“He was being hunted. This dog needs all of us — our prayers, our positive energy, our voices. He was found in East Prairie, Missouri.”

The team quickly rushed the injured pup to safety, where he was given pain medication and comfort. “He’s so kind, so sweet, so gentle,” the rescue shared. “It’s unthinkable how anyone could do something so cruel to such a loving soul.”

But once veterinarians took X-rays, the situation proved even worse. The arrow had pierced through his trachea and near his spine, and, horrifyingly, a bullet was also found lodged in his abdomen — proof that someone had deliberately tried to kill him.

Despite everything, the rescue named the brave pup Lucky Charm, believing that his will to live would pull him through.

When surgeons attempted to remove the arrow, they realized it was dangerously embedded in his windpipe, requiring a complex operation by a specialist. Lucky Charm was gently transported to surgery — wrapped in blankets and sent off “with love and so many kisses,” as the team wrote.

In an emotional update, Stray Rescue of Saint Louis confirmed that the surgery was a success:

“The arrow pierced both his trachea and his esophagus and came frighteningly close to his spine. The surgeons removed it carefully and stitched both wounds. He’s not out of the woods yet, but he’s eating, healing, and fighting.”

Lucky Charm still has a long road ahead, but with every passing day, this once-hunted pup is proving just how powerful hope — and kindness — can be.