When Rebecca Van Schepen arrived at the Kentucky Humane Society (KHS) early one morning in June, she noticed something unusual by the shelter door.
As she got closer, her confusion turned to heartbreak — a dog was curled up tightly on top of an Amazon delivery bag, clearly in pain and desperately in need of help.
The dog, later named Cowboy, had been abandoned the night before. Security footage later revealed that someone had left him there around 7:30 p.m., and he hadn’t moved from the spot all night.
Rebecca had arrived at 7 a.m., meaning Cowboy had waited more than 11 hours in the same place — alone, injured, and clinging to hope.
“Security camera footage showed that he never moved from the Amazon delivery bag the entire night,” said Ally Duncan, PR and marketing coordinator at KHS. “Despite his injuries, he had hope-filled eyes and was eager to crawl into Rebecca’s lap for love when she arrived.”
Cowboy’s injuries were severe — his leg was badly damaged and couldn’t be saved. The shelter’s veterinary team performed an emergency amputation to spare him further pain. Though they were initially concerned about how he’d adapt, Cowboy amazed everyone with his strength and spirit.
“After the amputation, he was placed on cage rest for a few days to make sure that the stitches healed correctly,” Duncan explained. “We could see a shift in his mood almost immediately. Cowboy transitioned to life with three legs beautifully!”
As he recovered, Cowboy quickly became a favorite among the shelter staff. Affectionate and playful, he radiated joy and gratitude — kissing everyone he met and soaking up all the love he could get.
“Cowboy is affectionate, playful and has never met a stranger,” Duncan said. “He was truly a breath of fresh air!”
Before long, Cowboy’s story took a happy turn — he was adopted into a loving home. His new family says it feels like he was always meant to be with them.
“His new family says, ‘He fits into our family like a piece of a missing puzzle,’” Duncan shared. “We’re absolutely thrilled we were able to help Cowboy find his perfect home.”
To support other animals like Cowboy on their path to healing and adoption, you can donate to the Kentucky Humane Society here.
