Someone Throws A Dog Out Of A Car In The Middle Of A Storm In San Diego

San Diego was getting slammed by a wild storm. It got so intense, they even put out tornado warnings.

And right in the middle of all that chaos, someone did something unthinkable. They tossed a dog out of a car and left him alone on the roadside like he didn’t matter at all.

He stayed there, soaked and shivering, just sitting in the rain for hours. Maybe he thought they’d come back for him. But they didn’t.

Eventually, the poor pup stood up and started wandering, probably scared, confused, and just trying to figure out where to go next. He ended up in a wild, overgrown field not far from the road.

It was dry and harsh, full of prickly weeds, thorny bushes, and cactus sticking out everywhere. There was even trash scattered around, which made each step a little more risky.

It wasn’t just uncomfortable out there. It was downright dangerous. But for him, it was the only place left to go.

Some neighbors had witnessed the whole thing, and word started to spread. When Stephanie Nisan from The Animal Pad Rescue heard the story, she knew she couldn’t just ignore it.

People warned her, though, that the dog was terrified. He growled, he snapped, and he wouldn’t let anyone near. Even animal control had tried and eventually backed off.

But that didn’t scare Stephanie away. She and her team grabbed their gear and headed straight to that field. They knew he wasn’t mean, he was just brokenhearted and scared. And they were ready to fight for him.

They started calling him Prickly Pete, not just because he was a little grumpy, but because he was literally covered in cactus needles.

His legs were scratched and bleeding, and one big chunk of cactus was still stuck to him, swinging from his leg as he limped around. He was in pain, shaking, and so unsure of everyone around him.

He didn’t know yet that these humans weren’t like the ones who left him. They weren’t there to hurt him, they were there to help.

Stephanie and her team waded right into that rough canyon, fully aware it was going to be tough. And it was. They came out scratched up, bleeding, tired, and sore, but they never gave up.

Pete clearly wanted help. You could see it in his eyes, like he was torn between fear and hope. But his body was still on high alert, stuck in survival mode.

It took three long, intense hours of patience, quiet voices, and gentle movements just to get close enough to slip a leash around him.

Once they finally got Pete to safety, it was clear just how much he’d been through. Cactus spines were lodged all over his legs, face, and even his tongue. The poor guy couldn’t take a step or lick his lips without wincing.

He was so tense and uncomfortable that the team had to sedate him just to remove the spines.

But as each one came out, it was like he let go of a little bit of fear, too, like he was slowly starting to believe he might actually be safe now.

As Pete’s body began to heal, his spirit started to heal too.

That tough, grumpy dog who used to snap and growl at anyone nearby began wagging his tail and leaning into the touches. He even showered Stephanie with sloppy, happy dog kisses.

It became clear that all Pete really needed was someone to see past his fear and believe in him.

Pretty soon, Pete was totally attached to Stephanie. She was his safe spot, his hero, the one person he trusted completely.

Around her, he was a different dog: happy, relaxed, and full of love. But with anyone else, he still kept his guard up, and honestly, after everything he’d been through, who could blame him?

That’s when Stephanie called in Katie, a trainer who specializes in helping dogs with tough pasts. Katie’s mission was to teach Pete that not everyone out there is a threat, and that it’s okay to let people in.

Pete’s journey from those tough days by the roadside and that scratch-filled cactus canyon has been incredible. Now, he’s bursting with energy, bouncing around like a playful puppy, full of goofy charm and joy.

Stephanie loves seeing him come alive like this. It’s like watching a whole new dog shine, as she hared in a YouTube video:

“He genuinely is an amazing dog. He still has puppy energy, so he’s just prancing around and just getting to be a dog that we don’t think he’s ever been able to be.”

And someday, when the moment’s just right, Pete will meet that special someone who looks past the thorns and sees the gentle soul underneath.

His forever family is out there for sure, but he’s already found a whole lot of love, which is pretty amazing.

For now, that’s all he needs to keep moving forward.