Raider

Raider was rescued from the streets of Lebanon back in February 2023 after being shot in the face multiple times. Just trying to fend for himself, sweet Raider had been roaming the streets looking for food. He was hungry, his stomach growling, begging for something to eat. He saw some chickens nearby and acted on instinct. It had been so long since anything had filled Raider's aching belly that he did not stop to assess the potential risks. 

Before he even knew what was happening, the owner of the chickens caught Raider and held him down, shooting him directly in the mouth. As the poor pup wailed in pain and tried to wriggle free, he was shot again in the legs, giving him no chance to run. The man pinned Raider to the ground, the poor dog's blood gushing from his wounds and pooling around his limp body. Believing Raider to be on his final breaths, the man finally relented and left Raider to die. 

We got a call about the incident and immediately sprang into action. Raider was rushed to the vet, choking on his own blood, unconscious, and literally holding on by a thread. His X-rays showed pellets embedded throughout his body, and our hearts broke imagining the torture this dog endures. Given the critical condition that Radier was in, no serious medical intervention could be done at the moment. 

The vet staff worked tirelessly to get him as stable as possible, and his wounds were cleaned and wrapped. IV pain medication, fluids, and antibiotics were administered. Raider was in a very bad state, and we had no idea if he would even make it through the night. He had lost a significant amount of blood and was extremely weak. The only shred of good news we had was that there were many witnesses to this heinous act, and we were able to take legal action against the shooter. 

Two days after he was admitted to the hospital, Raider was still doing his best to recover. He had started drinking on his own and even walking a bit, but he still had a long way to go. We didn't know what the future would hold for Raider, but one of the many invaluable donors that contributed to his recovery felt a special connection to Raider. After seeing his CUDDLY campaign, this woman reached out to our team and kept close tabs on Raider's progress.

Although he did sustain some vision loss, after the next several months Raider continued to recover. When Raider was strong enough to be adopted, we knew that the choice was obvious. Raider recently made the journey from Lebanon to the United Kingdom, where he was greeted by his new mom, the woman who had reached out to us all those months ago, encouraging us not to give up on her boy and championing his care.

Shortly after his arrival, Raider's mom discovered that she and her new furry friend both love to raid the fridge and feeling his name was quite fitting, she decided not to change it. Even a dog in the most impossible of circumstances was able to get his happy ending thanks to the compassion and generosity of his supporters all over the world. We wish Raider every happiness as he embarks on the beautiful next chapter of his life.