South Carolina Woman Finds Abandoned French Bulldog Puppy And Quickly Realizes Something’s Wrong
Crystal Floyd thought she was simply stopping to help a lost puppy. Instead, she ended up changing his life forever.
She was driving through Saint George, South Carolina, when something on the side of the road caught her attention. A tiny French bulldog puppy was wandering alone, dirty, frightened, and clearly vulnerable.
Without hesitation, she pulled over.
At first, Floyd assumed the puppy had accidentally gotten loose and that his family was probably searching for him. She drove around the area, stopping at nearby homes and asking questions, hoping to reunite the little dog with his owners.
But as time passed, a heartbreaking possibility became harder to ignore. No one seemed to be looking for him.
The puppy, later named Indy, hadn’t gotten lost. He appeared to have been abandoned.
As Floyd spent more time with him, she began noticing something unusual about his appearance. His face looked swollen, and his skin didn’t seem healthy.
Concerned, she took him to a local veterinarian that same day. The clinic found no microchip, and based on his baby teeth, vets estimated Indy was only about 8 weeks old.
Then came the diagnosis. Floyd shared in an interview:
“Indy was diagnosed with puppy strangles, which is an autoimmune disease that puppies tend to grow out of with treatment.”
Puppy strangles, also known as juvenile cellulitis, is a rare skin condition that causes swelling, bumps, pustules, and painful inflammation, particularly around a puppy’s face and muzzle. In severe cases, it can leave puppies feeling lethargic and uncomfortable.
Looking at Indy, Floyd couldn’t help but wonder if his medical condition played a role in why he was left behind, sharing:
“I believe he was dumped due to his medical issues.”
In addition to puppy strangles, Indy was also dealing with an ear infection and a heart murmur. Thankfully, treatment began immediately.
The first few days were especially difficult. Indy’s face was so swollen that he couldn’t even pick up food on his own. Floyd had to hand-feed him while waiting for the medication to take effect.
Watching such a young puppy struggle was heartbreaking, but little by little, signs of improvement started to appear. The swelling gradually decreased, his energy returned, and his sweet personality began to shine through.
Originally, Floyd never planned to keep the puppy. Her home was already full. She had two dogs named, three cats, plus six chickens. Adding another animal seemed unrealistic.
But Indy apparently had other plans. Almost immediately, he settled into the household as if he’d always belonged there. Floyd said:
“I feel like he knew this was his home from day one though. He gets along well with all the other animals and settles in his kennel at night without making a peep.”
As the days passed, what started as a temporary rescue quietly became a permanent one. The puppy nobody wanted had found exactly where he belonged.
Floyd began sharing Indy’s journey on TikTok through her account @realhousewifeofchs, documenting everything from his roadside rescue to his recovery and eventual adoption.
Millions of people have since followed along, cheering for the little French bulldog who refused to let a rough start define his future.
Today, Indy continues receiving treatment for puppy strangles and is expected to remain on medication for several more weeks before beginning his vaccinations.
His road to recovery isn’t quite over yet. But compared to where he started — abandoned, sick, and alone on the side of a road — his future looks incredibly bright.
