When a bitter December cold front swept into St. Louis, most people stayed tucked away inside their warm homes. But for one skinny white pittie, there was no home to retreat to — only freezing winds and an urgent need for shelter.
Shivering and exhausted, she stumbled onto the porch of a stranger’s house, curled into a tight ball on their doormat, and tried to block out the cold. She had no way of knowing that her life was about to change.
The homeowner spotted her through the window and immediately called Stray Rescue of St. Louis. Soon, rescuers pulled up to the scene. To the dog — who had learned to expect nothing from people — it looked like they might pass her by, just like so many had before.
But this time, the help was real.
“When we approached, we were glad to see she was still huddled on the porch,” said Natalie Thomson, chief communications officer for the rescue. “She saw us but didn’t believe we were there for her. She ignored us, expecting us to walk by.”
That’s when Donna Lochmann, the group’s chief life-saving officer, knelt down and started speaking to her in soft baby talk. Suddenly, a single thump of the tail broke through the tension.
“She looked so confused, but we told her, ‘Yes! We’re here for you!’” Thomson said.
Within minutes, they slipped a leash over her head and guided her into the warmth of their Jeep. The moment she realized she was safe, her entire body relaxed. She leaned in close for cuddles, pressing her head hard against Donna’s chest, soaking up affection she hadn’t felt in who knows how long.
At the shelter, the 2-year-old dog wasted no time burrowing into blankets and sinking into soft beds — a far cry from the cold concrete she’d been surviving on. Her rescuers knew instantly what to call her: Comfy Cozy.
Though still underweight and recovering from life on the streets, Comfy Cozy’s personality has begun to shine. She’s gentle, affectionate, and, in her rescuers’ words, destined to be “the best couch buddy.”
She’s now searching for a foster home to spend the holidays in. Her first placement ended too soon — she was returned after less than a day for having an accident indoors — but shelter staff know she just needs time to settle and learn a new routine.
For now, the team is determined to find her someone who sees the loving, easygoing dog she’s becoming.
As the rescue wrote in a recent Facebook post:
“You matter. You are beautiful. You deserve a family, a couch, toys, treats — and a Christmas sweater.”
Those who want to help Comfy Cozy — or the many other dogs still waiting for their chance — can donate, volunteer, or foster through Stray Rescue of St. Louis’s website.
