The team at Stray Rescue of St. Louis (SRSL) answers urgent calls every single day. But one call earlier this year stopped them cold.
“Police called from a heart-wrenching scene,” SRSL wrote on Facebook. “A home was vacated, all belongings left behind — including two dogs …”
When officers entered the abandoned house, they found a place frozen in time. Furniture, personal items and signs of once-loved pets filled the space — but no people were anywhere to be found. The conditions suggested the home had been deserted for quite some time.
Tragically, two of the animals — a bird and an adult dog — didn’t survive.
But as police continued searching the wreckage, they spotted something moving.
Perched on a pile of debris was a tiny brown puppy, barely clinging to life, his eyes wide with fear. He was alive — and he needed help immediately.
SRSL’s rescue team, led by chief lifesaving officer Donna Lochmann, rushed to the scene within minutes. Though devastated by the animals they couldn’t save, the team ensured they were treated with dignity before turning their full attention to the lone survivor.
They named him Gilligan.
“We scooped up this scared little pup,” SRSL wrote. “It’s OK, little one — you are finally safe.”
Gilligan was severely underweight and shaken from his ordeal, but remarkably, he was otherwise healthy. He was soon placed in foster care, where he could rest, recover and learn that people could be trusted again.
That trust came back faster than anyone expected.
In the home of foster parents Angela and Charlie David, Gilligan’s personality began to shine almost immediately.
“He is making himself at home,” the couple wrote in a message shared by SRSL. “If he’s not on our lap, he’s checking everything out.”
With each passing day, the frightened puppy transformed into a playful, curious dog who loved walks, meals and playtime. His energy returned — along with his joy.
“He is comfortable around us and has had an amazing turnaround,” they wrote. “He’s now energetic, loves walks, eats well and plays.”
In just 10 days, Gilligan’s weight nearly doubled — from just under 5 pounds to a healthy 9. With a fuller belly, a brand-new wardrobe and a safe place to sleep, he barely resembled the scared pup found in the abandoned house.
When it came time to look for Gilligan’s forever home, his foster parents realized something important.
He was already home.
“Foster fail announcement!” Angela wrote. “We adopted Gilligan — now called Paco — on March 14. We celebrated with a slice of Imo’s pizza and a toasted ravioli.”
That night, Paco happily devoured his celebratory meal before curling up beside the people who had become his family.
For a puppy who once had nothing, Paco now has everything — love, safety and a future filled with comfort.
“It was mutual,” Charlie later wrote. “He’s already become a fantastic companion.”
To help save more dogs like Gilligan — now Paco — you can donate to Stray Rescue of St. Louis and support their lifesaving work. 🐾❤️
