When Sandy Williams, director of the Tunica Humane Society, received a call about an abandoned dog, she embarked on a rescue mission uncertain of what she would discover. Wilbur, left behind by his family who had moved away, caught the attention of a concerned local man who knew the pup needed immediate help.
“He had been alone at the property for weeks, searching the surrounding fields for food to survive,” Williams shared. Upon arriving at Wilbur’s former home, a “Beware of the dog” sign greeted her, prompting caution that quickly turned into heartbreaking realization when she saw the emaciated dog it referred to.
“When I arrived, Wilbur slowly came out from under the porch,” Williams said. “I was shocked to see his condition. Every rib on his body was showing. His face was literally sunk in from going so long without food and water. What I remember most was his tear-stained face. You could see so much hurt and confusion in his sad eyes. He looked like he was crying.”
Terrified and confused, Wilbur hesitated to trust his rescuer. However, hunger eventually overcame his fear, and he cautiously approached Williams for the food she offered. Safely leashed and in her car, Wilbur was rushed to the vet’s office for a thorough check-up.
The vet’s examination revealed that Wilbur was not only starving but also suffering from potential trauma and heartworms. Despite his dire condition, he displayed remarkable resilience. Surrounded by people who showered him with love and care, Wilbur gradually started to relax.
“At the vet’s office, I saw a flicker of hope in Wilbur’s eyes,” Williams said. “Even though he was terrified of everyone, he responded with a tiny wag of his tail. The greatest moment in the world for a rescuer. That moment when they realize you are only there to help.”
The Tunica Humane Society shared Wilbur’s story, and it resonated with people nationwide. Offers to foster or adopt him poured in from across the country. Fortunately, a wonderful local family stepped forward to adopt Wilbur, providing the love he had never experienced before.
“He came around to everyone so quickly, once he realized he wasn’t going to be mistreated any longer,” Williams shared. “Wilbur has been adopted by an amazing, loving family. They have four other big dogs, and Wilbur went right into their home like he had been there always. [He has] stolen every heart in the home and everyone that meets him.”
