Dog Chained to Trash Can in the Woods Is ‘Smelliest’ Rescuers Have Ever Saved

The life of a dog rescuer is far from glamorous, but Donna Lochmann and the team at Stray Rescue of St. Louis is experienced. From venturing into derelict homes to crawling under houses and digging through tornado wreckage, they’ll do almost anything to bring home a dog in need. But this recent case brought a different kind of challenge—torrential rains and what they described as “maybe the smelliest dog” they’ve ever encountered.

Stray Rescue of St. Louis received a call from a teacher who had found a dog chained in the woods behind her school.

They explained on Facebook how the rescue unfolded:

This spring, we experienced record-breaking rain. One day during a heavy downpour, a call came in. A teacher heard dog cries deep in the woods behind the school. She bravely went to investigate and found a dog chained to a trash can. She assumed someone was stashing him there and would be back for him. For days, she kept checking, and he was still there. Crying, soaking wet, living in squelching mud, pleading with her for help. That’s when she called for help.

The rescuers trekked through the woods in the pouring rain until they reached the tiny Pit Bull.

He was soaking wet but looked happy to see them. They broke his heavy chain and got him to Donna’s Jeep “where he was warm and dry for the first time in…we’re not sure.”

That’s when they noticed his neck had been “rubbed raw” from the chain.

Then came the stench. “He was maybe the SMELLIEST dog we have rescued, and that’s saying something!”

They decided to name him “Weatherman.” On his ride to the animal shelter, he was clearly thrilled to be safe. Stray Rescue wrote, “He was so grateful, he kept going back and forth between his rescuers, covering them in kisses.”

“At one point, he even laid his head on top of our head and closed his eyes,” they added.

Once back at the shelter, they gave Weatherman water—he drank an entire bucket—and then treated him to a much-needed bath.

“We scrubbed this stinky boy and get him all warm and sudsy. You could tell he has never had a bath before, he was nervous. But he’d give us a quick, reassuring kiss to tell us he trusted us.”

Thankfully, Weatherman luckily found a foster home to go to right away where he is “earning all about life in a home with a family.”

But Stray Rescue of St. Louis is still in urgent need of more foster homes, as their shelter remains very full. To help, simply fill out an application at Strayrescue.org/foster.

Pupdate:

Around six months after his rescue (in January), Weatherman has found a wonderful new beginning. Stray Rescue shared:

“Last May, we experienced record-breaking rain. One day during a heavy downpour, a call came in. A teacher heard dog cries deep in the woods behind the school. She bravely went to investigate and found a dog chained to a trash can. Crying, soaking wet, living in squelching mud, pleading with her for help. That’s when she called Stray Rescue.
Breaking that big, heavy chain off of this sweet dog was the best feeling.He ran and JUMPED in the Jeep where he was warm and dry for the first time in…we’re not sure. His neck was rubbed raw from the chain. He was maybe the SMELLIEST dog we have rescued, and that’s saying something!!

“Look at his life now. He was lucky enough to go to foster, and they helped him find the perfect family who absolutely, positively adores him! He was adopted twice – the first time he was returned for separation anxiety. The second time he was adopted, the family has experienced zero separation anxiety! Definitely don’t be scared to give a pup a chance!

“Every home, routine, training style, and exercise/playtime is different.

“His family says, ‘Weatherman goes by Manny now. He joins our other dog, Coco, for window watching, or most of the time they are snuggled up together. They play together every day. Manny has gotten so muscular with all of their playing and our jogs. He went trail running for the first time last week and stayed right next to Coco, photo included! He and Coco get spoiled when they go to Treats Unleashed, everyone loves him there. He gets lots of love and treats. He sometimes sneaks into bed with us in the morning and we of course let him stay. He is absolutely PERFECT!'”