When M. Roger Massey heard there was a pit bull hiding deep in the woods, abandoned and too afraid to be touched, he knew he had to help — even if the dog didn’t realize it yet.
The frightened pup, who would later be named Pappas, wasn’t just wary — he was terrified. Every time someone tried to approach, he barked nonstop, warning people to stay back. He didn’t know these strangers were trying to save him. All he knew was fear.
“I’ve rescued four abandoned dogs from this park,” Massey wrote on Facebook. “But this guy is too aggressive.”
Still, Massey didn’t give up. Day after day, he returned to the park, leaving food and water for Pappas from a safe distance. The dog seemed to tolerate Massey’s own pups nearby — but he wouldn’t let any humans near him. Massey called everyone he could think of, and eventually, Saving Hope Animal Rescue stepped in to help. But even they struggled at first.
Three long weeks passed.
Then, one day, everything changed.
Two volunteers quietly approached Pappas — and this time, the exhausted dog didn’t resist. He let them slip a leash gently around his neck. He was too weak to fight, but maybe, deep down, he was also ready. Ready to trust.
That’s when rescuers realized just how much Pappas had been through. Not only was he malnourished and scared, but he also only had three legs. For weeks, he’d been surviving alone in the woods with a disability and no one to protect him. But now, he was finally safe — and he knew it.
“As soon as he was rescued, he just melted,” Lauren Anton, executive director of Saving Hope Animal Rescue, told The Dodo. “He has the most soulful eyes. He snuggles and wants to follow his human everywhere.”
Today, Pappas is thriving in a foster home, soaking up love, soft beds, and the simple joys of safety. He’s no longer the fearful dog barking in the woods — he’s a cuddly companion who finally feels at home.
Soon, Pappas will be ready for a forever family of his own — one that will never abandon him again.
If you’re interested in giving Pappas the loving home he’s been waiting for, reach out to Saving Hope Animal Rescue for more details.
