None of them are prepared for what animal rescuers discover on a road

Miami (USA) - The employees of the rescue organization "Sunshine Animal Rescue" from the US state of Florida have certainly seen terrible fates in their work with animals. But a recent experience shook even the experienced animal rescuers to the core.

Lauren Dawson, founder and president of the organization that specializes in rescuing four-legged friends, was out and about a few days ago in an area of Miami known for strays.

And it wasn't long before Lauren spotted a black dog in the distance, walking alone on the side of the road. "But nothing could have prepared us for the horror we found today...", writes the US American in her video on TikTok, in which she documents the rescue.

As the furry friend approached her car, Lauren could see that the dog's body was covered in wounds and scars.

"He was in bad shape, showing signs of previous and recent injuries, and he was very hungry," Lauren recalled to Newsweek. "Despite everything, he was just thrilled that someone stopped for him." This can also be seen in their clip, in which the dog, who would later be christened "Trooper", runs up to the window of Lauren's car wagging his tail.

Trooper, who apparently had a terrible past in illegal dog fights where he was used as bait for the aggressive dogs, would have been "crying for help" that day, according to Lauren.

And he got it straight away thanks to Lauren. Before Trooper was allowed to come to her facility, the stray animal first had to be isolated in a hospital. Because apart from his external ailments, the dog also had internal medical problems. "He tested positive for heartworms, which we need to treat, along with hookworms, tapeworms, roundworms and whipworms," says Lauren. "The most worrying thing is his positive test for leptospirosis."

This infection, which is caused by a bacterium and is transmitted through contact with urine or contaminated soil, for example, can affect both humans and animals. In addition to fever, headaches and a skin rash, it also causes symptoms such as blood in the urine and breathing difficulties.

Trooper's rescuers hope that he will be spared kidney or liver damage thanks to early detection of the disease. "When I think about what he's been through, I'm devastated," said Lauren.

"He is the sweetest dog ever, and when we stopped to help him, he melted on my lap. Trooper is incredibly loving and craves attention."

It was precisely this enchanting nature that was probably his undoing in the past. Bait dogs are chosen for their passive nature, as this provokes the fighting instinct of other dogs. The constant mistreatment was not only a terrible physical experience, but certainly also had a psychological impact on Trooper.

After his time in hospital, the dog will therefore be put up for adoption so that he can finally lead a comfortable life.

Thanks to Trooper's videos on TikTok, some of which have been clicked on more than 10 million times, the chances of finding a suitable family for him in the USA are certainly good.