Cries from crate led to pup dumped in NC woods. Now ‘survivor’ has fresh start
A puppy was dumped in the woods — then neighbors heard his “cries for help.”
The little “survivor” was rescued and taken to a North Carolina animal shelter. But his lucky streak didn’t end there.
“While our Animal Control investigator is still working to identify his previous owner, we are happy to report that Rocky was officially adopted,” Tracy V. Sanchez, social media public outreach and volunteer coordinator for Iredell County Animal Services, told McClatchy News in a Sept. 23 email.
Rocky the pup got a fresh start after he arrived at the county’s shelter Sept. 12. At the time, he was underweight after experiencing a rough patch.
“At just 3 months old, little Rocky has already endured more than any puppy ever should,” the shelter wrote in a Facebook post. “He was found abandoned in the woods, confined to a crate with only empty food and water bowls beside him. Emaciated and alone, Rocky’s cries for help were answered when neighbors alerted our officers, and he was brought to safety.”
At the shelter, Rocky started to gain weight and build trust. He also showed his “incredible resilience” despite all he had been through.
“Rocky deserves a forever family who will give him the love, protection, and security he’s been denied until now,” Animal Services wrote while the pup was still waiting for a home. “A family who will never discard him, but instead cherish him for all the joy he has to give.”
Then on Sept. 22, the shelter finally got the news it had been hoping for. Rocky was adopted, kicking off his next chapter.
McClatchy News reached out to the shelter for more information about the dog and is awaiting a response. The facility is in Statesville, a roughly 40-mile drive north from uptown Charlotte.
This story was originally published September 24, 2025 at 10:16 AM with the headline "Cries from crate led to pup dumped in NC woods. Now ‘survivor’ has fresh start."
