An animal rescuer has detailed the horrifying experience of a starving dog who was chained up outside, and the traumatic lengths she went to just to survive.
Busby headed there immediately and found the pup, named Skittles, curled up in a broken litter box, trying to stay warm. Beside her was the ribcage of the dog who passed
“Thinking about what she went through is devastating. The thought of her potentially starving in the cold and without shelter hurts my heart. She had a heavy chain around her neck, preventing her from fending for herself, and it was so tangled she couldn’t get out of the rain,” Busby said.
From left: Skittles being rescued from a backyard where she was tied up with a chain; Skittles in Busby’s car getting to eat some food. Busby was horrified to see what Skittles had to go…
Although Skittles was weary of Busby at first, it was clear that she was thankful to be getting help. Busby helped her out of the chain and put her in the back of her car, where she started eating the dog food provided.
@magnoliamuttsrescue♬ Come Rest (Matthew 11:28-29) – Hannah An
It’s unclear how long Skittles was kept outside without food, but Busby is relieved that chapter of her life is now over. Her home is already filled with many foster dogs, so it didn’t take long for Skittles to make new friends and start feeling like she belonged.
“She seemed very sad the first week, but it didn’t take long for her to come around,” Busby continued.
“She gets along with everyone she meets, but she does have a problem with digging holes in the yard, and she chases squirrels and skunks too. She loves being outside so much, we have a hard time getting her to come back in because she spends tons of time running outside and enjoying being a dog.”
Skittles after being rescued by Busby and learning to thrive in her foster home. Skittles loves being outside and spends most of her time digging holes and chasing squirrels in the backyard. @magnoliamuttsrescue / TikTok
Indeed, Skittles spends most of her day outside, potentially as a result of being kept outside in her former home. Sometimes, Busby can’t even bring her in at night, so she goes to bed and waits for Skittles to bark when she’s ready to come inside—even if it’s 3 am.
She hopes that this will encourage more people to advocate for animals in need, and to do what they can for those who need a loving home.