Ernesto, a Good Samaritan from L.A., found an injured Pitbull bleeding and stumbling outside his home. He took the animal into his front yard to keep it from running away while he called for help. As he happened to be a supporter of Hope For Paws, a not-for-profit rescue group in the city, he immediately got in touch with them and told them about the wounded animal.
Rescuer JoAnn Wiltz quickly drove to Ernesto’s place to help. Once she got there, she saw him tending to the injured Pitbull. She thanked him for his noble act, and then went to work and built trust with the dog.
The rescuer expertly looped in a Lucky Leash on the dog. Even though the dog looked alert, JoAnn knew it needed urgent medical attention. With Ernesto’s help, she was able to secure the dog at the back of her vehicle.
After thanking Ernesto for his help, JoAnn hurriedly drove the Pitbull to CARES, a local animal veterinary clinic. On the way, she named the dog Hippo. Hippo settled in quietly behind her, grateful that she came to his rescue.
The doctors at CARES determined that Hippo got hit by a car. Luckily, Hippo did not break any bones. He was a little sore but only suffered from road burns.
After getting his wounds treated, Hippo received a much-deserved bath from JoAnn. He felt refreshed but seemed to continuously catch his breath. His body tended to overheat because he was overweight so his rescuer made sure he stayed hydrated to keep his body temperature normal.
Hippo’s next stop was at LA Animal Rescue. There, he continued recovering from his injuries. He also lost a couple of pounds with the help of his foster family.
Through it all, Hippo showed much appreciation for his new beginning. It even got better for the Pitbull, as he soon found his forever family. Hippo now happily lives with his new fur parents and enjoys the company of his two new Chihuahua siblings.
Credits: Hope For Paws and LA Animal Rescue
