Woman Finds A Struggling Puppy in South Carolina And Can’t Believe What’s Tied Around His Mouth

Sadly, animal cruelty is something that far too many animals go through, often without anyone to help them.

But sometimes, it only takes one person to step in and make a world of difference, giving these animals a chance at a better life.

This is the story of one such moment when a little struggling pup found hope, thanks to the kindness of a stranger.

One day in Travelers Rest, South Carolina, Liz Heatherly was driving along a country road when something caught her eye. At first, she couldn’t figure out what it was, but as she looked closer, her heart sank.

There, by the side of the road, was a tiny black puppy struggling to move. It was clear that something was very wrong.

No more than 10 weeks old, the poor thing was limping and his tiny body was infested with fleas and ticks.

And worse still, a zip tie had been cruelly fastened around his mouth, leaving him in unbearable agony.

Liz pulled into the first driveway she saw and quickly jumped out of the car, urging her mom and sister to follow her. The puppy, clearly terrified, darted away from them as they tried to approach and ran into a drainage ditch, about six feet down.

Liz and her family were forced to slide down after him and make their way to the bottom. It wasn’t easy, but they managed to get to him.

As soon as Liz had a chance, she freed him from the painful tie that had been restricting his mouth.

They rushed him to Cleveland Park Animal Hospital, where Dr. Bryant Phillips examined the little pup.

The little fellow was in rough shape. He was severely dehydrated, malnourished, and suffering from parasites.

The zip tie had been in place for two or three days, and though it hadn’t caused major damage to his mouth, the skin around it was raw and covered in open sores.

Dr. Phillips warned that the hair on his muzzle might never grow back properly due to the damage.

Liz decided to take the puppy home, naming him Norman. But there was one big worry: her rescue dog, Jackson, who had a rough past with other dogs.

Jackson had always been an only dog, and Liz had feared that bringing another dog into the family would upset him.

But to her surprise, Jackson welcomed Norman with open paws the moment they met.

Seeing them play together warmed Liz’s heart, and she knew that Norman was exactly where he belonged, sharing in an interview:

“I’ll never forget this, but when I walked in the backyard and Norman whined in my arms, Jackson jumped up to lick him and let him know it was going to be OK. Jackson loves Norman and it makes my heart so full looking at them playing together.”

As Norman recovered under Liz’s loving care, he quickly became a joyful, trusting puppy, full of energy and love. His scars healed, and even the hair around his mouth started to grow back.

Liz was amazed by his resilience and ability to trust again, sharing:

“I honestly thought Norman would have trust issues or be afraid to let people touch around his mouth, but he has none of those issues. He is a leaping bundle of black fur that I wouldn’t trade for anything!”

Now, nearly two weeks after his rescue, Norman is thriving. His fur continues to grow back, and every day is a new adventure for him.

He’s quite a little character, always full of life, as Liz described him:

“Norman is extremely friendly and full of energy. He should have been named ‘Firecracker,’ because that is how he acts. His legs are so long and he trips over them all the time. He’s goofy and loves to play 24/7.”

Liz feels like Norman was meant to be a part of her life, her little miracle who brings endless joy to her home every day.