This story was originally shared on The Animal Rescue Site. Submit your own rescue story here. Your story just might be the next to be featured on our blog!

On March 22, 2008 I said goodbye to Thunder, my black lab of 15yrs. It left a huge hole in my heart.

PHOTO: Pexels.com

December 25th, 2009 I am on my way to work in my patrol vehicle when I observe a vehicle stopped on the freeway by a bridge. An amazing young woman had stopped because she thought she saw an animal in distress. She was was right. It was a black lab. He looked like Thunder.

When he was found in the ditch he had spent the night after being hit. There was a small blood trail where he had dragged himself about 4 or 5 feet. He had been there long enough that his body heat had melted the 3 inches of snow and ice under him and he was now in a puddle of cold water.

He was shivering and in distress ... BUT did not whimper, whine, bark or bite despite at least 7 fractures to his one rear leg and soft tissue damage to both rear knees.

PHOTO: Anonymous

I had him transported to the local pet emergency and the humane society put a plea out for the owner. He came forward after 4 days but gave up the the dog (he was a not so nice person). The plea galvanized the city and donations poured in to help the dog, now named Rupert (my friend named him).

Rupert went through at least 7 surgeries and recovered to about 70% A local vet then donated months of rehab. We now swim, run..act like idiots!! Oh, an odd but fantastic twist. Looks and acts like my Thunder. A google search of "Rupert the black lab" will reveal the whole journey on the Kingston Humane Society site.

Story submitted by Sean McCaffrey, from Kingston, Canada.

These rescue stories were originally shared on The Animal Rescue Site. Share your very own rescue story here!