Severely Malnourished Chihuahua Spends Months Chained To Outdoor Trampoline In North Carolina
It’s hard to imagine the kind of neglect some animals face until you come across a story like Chico’s – a tiny Chihuahua whose resilience and spirit managed to shine through even the darkest moments of his life.
Jake Roos and his team from PETA were out in the field one day when they came across a heartbreaking sight.
A small, frail Chihuahua named Chico was chained outside with a bungee cord tightly wrapped around his neck, his body crawling with ticks. Roos shared in an interview:
“We fitted him with a proper collar and gave him food, water, and flea and tick medication. We tried to get Chico’s owners to bring him inside or let us have him, but they refused. The family moved away soon after, and we worried about what would happen to Chico.”
Months passed, but fate brought them together again. Five months later, while helping other chained dogs in a rural North Carolina trailer park, Roos spotted a familiar face. He said:
“I spotted Chico chained to an old trampoline with just two feet of tangled tether.”
The area was nearly deserted, and two aggressive dogs nearby made the scene even more distressing.
Chico was severely malnourished and had no food or water available. This time, Roos managed to convince the owner to surrender him.
When Chico was finally freed, his body told the story of his suffering. He was a “shell of himself,” ribs and hip bones sticking out, too weak to do anything but curl up and sleep.
Roos explained that dogs kept chained outside often endure unimaginable isolation and neglect:
“They’re deprived of veterinary care, exercise, companionship, or even a kind word. Being social animals, they can become deeply depressed or develop aggression from the frustration of being kept alone for so long.”
Once Chico received his vaccinations and was placed in a foster home, it was clear he had a long road to recovery.
He was skittish, nervous, and often trembled with fear. But slowly, with gentle care, he began to trust again.
He bonded with his foster dad and grew especially attached to a squeaky donut toy that became his favorite companion.
Eventually, Chico’s story took a joyful turn. He found his forever home with a retired woman who had lost her previous dog years earlier.
For the first time, Chico had warmth, comfort, and love – everything he’d been denied for so long. Roos said:
“He loves playing with his toys, and his favorite part of the day is mealtime. He also loves his treats and being tucked into bed at night. Chico’s guardian treats him like the true family member he is, and his life couldn’t be more different than what it was.”
Today, Chico has traded his cold ground for soft blankets, his loneliness for love, and his fear for peace.
His story is a powerful reminder that with compassion and persistence, even the most broken souls can heal and find their way home.
