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Starving, Injured German Shepherd Lured Off Streets With Clever Rescuer’s ‘Chicken Trap’
Neighbors in a San Antonio community spotted Champ, a stray pup wandering their streets. Clearly starving and injured, one woman recognized that he needed help. For two weeks she worked tirelessly to safely capture him, determined to get him off the streets and into caring hands that could provide him with the help he desperately needed.
Scared, Injured, and Hungry
Kennessey Hartley, a foster mom with local rescue Footbridge Foundation, couldn’t turn a blind eye to the abandoned dog’s suffering. It was clear from his injured state and desperate attempts to scavenge for food that the young dog was in dire straits. “He just looked so sad and skinny,” Hartley recalled. “Every time I put food out, he would do this heartbreaking little howl.”
Determined to rescue the ailing pup, Hartley tried for weeks before finally enlisting the help of a local dog trapper. They used Church’s chicken as an enticing lure. “We had quite the adventure trying to catch him in a stranger’s front yard,” she said. “But I finally managed to loop him with a slip lead. He came back to my house that day, and I’ve been his foster mom ever since.”
Champ’s Road to Recovery
Once safely off the streets, Hartley took Champ to the veterinarian for an evaluation. The un-microchipped pup was underweight and had a severely infected right front paw that left his toes curled up, preventing him from putting weight on it.
After a round of antibiotics, rest, and Hartley’s nurturing care, Champ made a quick recovery. Though initially limited to short leash walks due to his paw injury, it didn’t take long for his foster mom to realize this pup’s boundless energy and love for running. “We do 3 miles a couple times a week now,” Hartley said. “He also loves chasing tennis balls and frisbees.”
Beyond his athletic abilities, Champ proved to be an incredibly smart and eager pupil. “Learning new tricks and commands is one of his favorite things,” Hartley shared. “He gets the zoomies when you praise him for being such a good boy!” When not entertaining with his cleverness, Champ relishes snuggle time and performs an adorable full-body wiggle when excited.
Champ can also tell time, “He will remind you what time breakfast and dinner is – those are very important to him.”
Now He’s Ready for His Forever Family
Champ has lived with Hartley since November 2023 and is a loyal pup who deserves to find a family to love him. “He’s having a tough time getting adopted. Probably a combination of age (he’s not a puppy) and because he’s a German Shepherd mix.”
Despite no longer being a tiny puppy, Champ has abundant energy, smarts, and so much affection to give the right owners. He’s house-trained, crate-trained, up-to-date on vaccinations, and neutered. He does well with other dogs, cats and older children. His desire to learn makes him an ideal companion for someone willing to provide structured training to keep his active mind engaged.
This pooch sounds like he’s the perfect canine companion! You can find more information about Champ here and If your family is ready to provide Champ with the loving forever home he deserves, you can complete an adoption application at Footbridge Foundation.
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