As a man was driving through town, he noticed a dog on the side of the road. The dog looked to be in pain.

The man pulled over to approach him. He got a closer look and realized the dog’s snout was sealed shut by a wire. And the man had seen this before!

Tying a wire around a dog’s snout is a common and painful practice used in slaughterhouses. By some miracle, this brave dog must have escaped from a nearby slaughterhouse. He sat there, in unimaginable pain. But when the man and his friends tried to approach the dog, he fled. The dog was obviously traumatized by knowing what humans had been capable of before.

The man and his friends searched for the dog. He continued to run but finally, after due diligence and team effort, the dog was captured. It took a grueling 6 hours but the dog’s life was so worth it! The man took the dog into his care and named him Balboa.

Once Balboa was at the vet, he was properly assessed. His mouth was badly injured. It was infected and bleeding. The vet ordered emergency treatment that included antibiotics, medication for pain, and IV fluids.

The next step would be to remove the wire from his mouth. The vet was so gentle and careful with Balboa! The brave dog’s awake while the wire is removed but he’s on medication to calm him and prevent pain. He’s such a trooper!

Within a few days, Balboa heals enough to eat his first real meal. All the volunteers gather around to witness this feat. To be able to open and close his mouth, and chew, is an incredible feeling. He’s such a happy boy!

His wounds continue to heal and Balboa is much happier around humans. He’s realizing that the humans from his past weren’t coming back. Balboa’s next step will be to find a forever home. We couldn’t be happier for this deserving dog. Thank you to the heroes who stepped in to save his life!