Pup saved from starvation and shock. ‘Never seen a dog in such bad shape’
A dog that was near death is showing off her strength, resilience and will to live with the help of a village of caring humans in Tulsa.
When Fern was found, she was under the shadow of a dumpster, with her bones jutting out under her thin, dusty brown skin, photos show. But her eyes? Her eyes still had life as she looked at her rescuers.
“Tossed in the trash like garbage…like her life meant nothing,” the Oklahoma Alliance for Animals said in a hard-to-look-at Facebook post.
“Left to suffer alone in the sweltering heat…starving, dehydrated, forgotten. No food. No water. No compassion. Just a slow, cruel death sentence.”
Fern was rescued by refuse workers in the area, and she was rushed in to Oklahoma Veterinary Specialists, the shelter said.
What the vets found was even worse than they imagined.
“Earlier today, the vet treating Fern shared with us, fighting back tears, ‘I’ve done this for so many years and have never seen a dog in such bad shape,’” the shelter said in an update on July 10.
“Her body was in shock, her temperature dangerously low, and she could only manage a few tablespoons of food and some water from a syringe.”
Over the course of a few days, the shelter continued to update its followers on Fern’s progress and even shared some good news regarding a possible home for her.
“This morning…we were deeply touched to hear from the refuse worker who found her,” the shelter said in a July 11 Facebook post. “After helping to get her the urgent help she needed...he reached out to let us know he hasn’t stopped thinking about her…and when she’s ready…he hopes to adopt her and give her the loving home she’s always deserved.”
The veterinary team said that while it’s hopeful about her recovery, she still has a long healing journey ahead of her.
On July 15, the shelter shared some more excellent news about Fern.
“Today, for the first time since her rescue, Fern took assisted steps—and we’re not sure there was a dry eye in the room. This moment, however small it might seem to some, is nothing short of a miracle for a dog who came to us barely clinging to life,” the shelter said in a post, along with a video of Fern walking.
“Her journey isn’t over, but today proves just how strong her will to live is. With the help of the incredible ICU team at OVS and the love you’ve all poured into her story, Fern is slowly learning what it feels like to move through a world that’s rooting for her.”
To keep up with Fern’s journey, visit the shelter’s Facebook page.
This story was originally published July 16, 2025 at 5:24 PM with the headline "Pup saved from starvation and shock. ‘Never seen a dog in such bad shape’."