When Arleth Martinez came home from work one evening in Texas, she didn’t expect to find someone waiting for her by the trash cans. Curled up against the bags was a tiny puppy, trembling and desperate for warmth.
The little dog wagged her tail and leaned into Martinez’s touch right away, a sign that she had once known kindness — and likely hadn’t been alone for long.
But with nowhere else to go, the frightened pup had burrowed into a garbage bag, using it as a bed.
“That’s why I’m assuming she was dumped,” Martinez told The Dodo. “She was trying to make herself a little place to sleep.”
As Martinez tried to figure out how to help, her heart broke again. A neighbor began throwing ice at the puppy, trying to chase her away.
“I was really, really sad,” Martinez said. “And then I was, like, really mad.”
Determined to get the puppy to safety, Martinez posted her picture on a local community page. It wasn’t long before Three Little Pitties Rescue stepped in. They brought the puppy — now named Milly — straight to their clinic, where she was vaccinated, dewormed, and given flea prevention.
With her health on the mend, Milly’s true self began to shine. In her foster home, she quickly revealed her playful, affectionate side.
“Like any puppy, Milly loves treats, cuddles and toys,” the rescue wrote on Facebook. “But what truly sets her apart is her sweet, gentle nature and deep need for affection.”
At just 5 months old, Milly already gets along wonderfully with dogs, cats, and kids. She knows how to sit — though she prefers doing so only on soft, fluffy blankets — and never misses an opportunity for belly rubs.
Everyone at Three Little Pitties Rescue is confident she’d make a wonderful addition to any household.
“Strangers? What are those? To Milly, everybody is a new best buddy, capable of delivering pets and love,” the rescue wrote.
After surviving nights curled up in trash bags and being shooed away by people who didn’t want her around, Milly is finally safe. Now, she’s searching for a forever family who will give her what she’s always deserved — warmth, comfort, and love.
“No more sleeping with the trash,” the rescue said. “Only cozy beds and warm hearts from here on out.”
If you're interested in adopting Milly, you can fill out an application here. If you'd like to support other animals like Milly, you can make a donation to Three Little Pitties Rescue here.
