When Ann Flores visited the Harris County Animal Shelter in Houston, Texas, she never expected to witness something so heartbreaking.
Outside the building, a woman was dragging a frightened dog across the pavement. The 3-year-old pup resisted with all his might, rolling onto his back in desperation as if begging not to be taken inside.
“He laid on his back and just rolled over,” Flores said. “It was like he was saying, ‘Please don’t take me in here.’”
Another woman, likely a companion of the first, was forcing a second dog through the doors. Both pups refused to walk, so their owners ended up carrying them.
What shocked Flores even more was the women’s demeanor. “They were laughing, like it was nothing,” she recalled. “It was as if these dogs were trash they were throwing away. There was no remorse at all.”
Flores captured photos and videos of the heartbreaking scene and sent them to Harris County Animal Volunteers, a rescue network that quickly shared the story of the two abandoned siblings, later named Truman and Mandi.
A Narrow Escape
The shelter, already overcrowded, placed both dogs on a short euthanasia list. Truman’s time was set to end just four days after arrival, with Mandi’s scheduled the following day.
But thanks to a surge of community support, Cypress Lucky Mutt Rescue stepped up to claim both dogs, securing foster homes just in time.
When Kellie Donoghue, director of Grace Mercy Love German Shepherd Rescue, arrived to pick up Truman, the dog was frozen with fear.
“He just pancaked onto the floor and wouldn’t move,” Donoghue said. Staff had to carry him to her car.
Even in his terror, Truman showed glimmers of hope — wagging his tail through trembling. And during the drive to safety, something remarkable happened.
“He wanted to be near me the whole time,” Donoghue said. “In just 25 minutes, he started to open up. By the end, he even fell asleep in the car.”
Now safe with his foster mom, Christina Caballero, Truman is rediscovering joy. “He’s always wagging his tail,” she said. “He’s very happy.”
Though heartworm treatment and indoor training lie ahead, Truman has already proven he’s ready for a loving forever home.
Mandi’s Healing Journey
Mandi, rescued the day after Truman, also arrived in rough shape. She was timid, missing patches of fur, battling mange, and suffering from painful eye swelling.
But with care from her foster mom, Jackie Duncan, she’s slowly coming out of her shell.
“She has a ton of love in her,” Duncan said. “It just took patience to help her feel safe.”
A Future Filled With Hope
From being dragged into the shelter in fear to finding safety in foster homes, Truman and Mandi’s journey is a reminder of both the cruelty some animals endure and the compassion that saves them.
Thanks to rescue groups and devoted fosters, these siblings now have the second chance they so desperately deserved.
If you’re in the Houston area and looking to adopt, you can follow the Harris County Animal Volunteers Facebook page to meet more dogs and cats who are waiting for families of their own.
