It’s no secret that dogs are excellent at picking up on emotional cues from those around them, whether man or fellow dog. Dogs seem to have an innate sense of empathy that allows them to feel the negative emotions around them, and they are just as capable of offering a reassuring sense of connection and togetherness. That’s why dogs are such good therapy animals, and why they seem to have a natural instinct to calm and protect. Of course, these characteristics are usually enjoyed by their human companions, but dogs are able to offer support to just about any creature.
Dogs are known to want to help other dogs they see in distress or pain. There are some people out there who seem to ignore the emotions within a dog, but anyone who has ever worked closely with or owned one of these beautiful pets knows the real truth. Dogs can sense very small changes in tone of voice and body language, and they react to those changes to help calm or alleviate stress. This is true for humans as well as it is for other dogs, and this story shows exactly how true that can be.
Rescue Dogs Rock NYC is an organization that travels around the country seeking out the worst cases of abuse and neglect within the animal shelters of the rural landscape. They then rescue the dogs and return them to their facilities in New York where they can undergo the treatment and recovery they so desperately need. Sammie was a young boxer puppy who was recently rescued by the organization and brought for help. When Sammie arrived, he was greeted by another rescue by the name of Simon. Simon was recovering from mange and was allowed to freely walk the facility. Both dogs were taken from shelters located in South Carolina.
Sammie arrived at the hospital in New York in horrible shape. The abuse Sammie went through was both grotesque and shocking. He’d been dragged behind a car, shot in the head with some sort of non-lethal projectile, and spray-painted with thick black and blue paint. Workers at the facility were outraged when they saw the abuse Sammie had been through, and they knew they would have to work fast if they wanted to save him.
Not only was Sammie covered in spray paint, but two of his legs were broken as well. Since no treatment had been administered, the dog was in danger of becoming infected. The injury that resulted from some form of projectile was on Sammie’s head, and it was just as serious an injury. Sammie was originally being treated by an organization that worked with Rescue Dogs Rock NYC, but they were unable to offer the comprehensive treatment he needed, so the dog was taken to NYC. It was clear to all that Sammie needed all the attention, treatment, and love he could find.
Fortunately, Simon, the other rescue dog with mange from South Carolina, was able to offer his support. When Simon first saw Sammie being treated in the facility, the gentle dog calmly walked up to the table where Sammie was laid. He placed a paw on the table right next to Sammie and even nudged the puppy with his nose. Sammie nearly instantly perked up, and his thankfulness for the simple act of affection clearly raised his spirits.
Sammie has received the treatment that he needed and now is recovering nicely in New York. Simon was cured of his mange and found someone to adopt him from New Jersey. The two friends will never forget each other since they were so close during their times of need.