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18th May 2023
07:56am BST
A dog that was spotted alone in the rain carrying a stuffed toy in its mouth has been rescued.
Pictures of the German Shepherd broke hearts across the internet after being released by the Almost Home Animal Rescue League (AHARL) who had received calls about the dog in the Metro Detroit area earlier this month.
Gail Montgomery, the cofounder of AHARL, was horrified when she began receiving messages about the dog - non-known as Nikki - and reached out to her network to try and find her.
South Lyon Murphy Lost Animal Recovery later rescued Nikki off the street, still clutching her toy.
She was then placed into a foster home.
Gail told People: "She doesn't even need her stuffy anymore. She's constantly hugging her foster parents."
She added: "She still kind of sleeps on it, but she's not obsessed with it like she was in Detroit when she was walking around."
When Gail first heard about Nikki, she was suspected of having spent months out in the elements, alone.
The dog was suspected of being abandoned after her owner died, and was living off the generosity of neighbours and hunting for scraps.
When Gail first heard about Nikki, the dog was "totally stressed out" and her body "wasn't functioning" due the stress and trauma of street life.
Nikki received emergency vet care after being rescued.
"Unfortunately, she's got heartworm disease and other internal problems. They found plastic bags, twigs, and bones in her stomach," Gail explained.
Nikki continues to recover and regain her strength in a foster home, and is now eating a diet of chicken and rice.
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