Early one morning at Austin Pets Alive!, a staff member arrived at the rescue’s Parvo ICU to find an unexpected package: a cardboard box sitting quietly near the door. Curious, she peeked inside — and found a small French bulldog looking up at her, wide-eyed and unsure.
The pup, later named McNugget, had been left behind with a handwritten note:
“Found dog S. 1st & Congress. No owner has reached out.”
The staff gently carried the little dog inside, unaware that McNugget carried not just confusion and abandonment — but also a painful secret.
A medical exam revealed that McNugget couldn’t use her back legs. She had a collapsed disc and a spinal condition called spondylosis, leaving her paralyzed and completely immobile. Even if she’d wanted to crawl out of that box, she couldn’t have.
“We believe the person who brought her did so anonymously because they knew APA! isn’t an open-intake shelter,” said Luis Sanchez, public relations and communications officer for APA!. “But they also knew we’d never turn away a dog in need — no matter how complex the case.”
With a new name — Shrimpina — and a growing support team behind her, this little Frenchie’s life began to change.
She was placed in a loving foster home, where her unique needs were met with patience and compassion. And in return, Shrimpina began to thrive. Against the odds, she even began taking small, determined steps — working hard to regain strength in her back legs.
Today, Shrimpina is full of life and love.
“Shrimpina is pure sunshine,” said her adopter, Guptill. “She wakes up full of snuggles and kisses, loves squeaky toys, and is always happiest curled up in my lap while I work. She's the ultimate lap dog.”
From abandoned and immobile to deeply loved and on the move — Shrimpina’s journey is proof of what can happen when animals are given a second chance.
And for shelters like APA!, this is what it’s all about.
Want to help more pets like Shrimpina?
You can support APA! and their lifesaving work by donating here. Every gift helps a pet get the care — and the future — they deserve.
