Wade and Mandi Shapp were driving home from church along a quiet country road in Princeton, Texas, when Wade suddenly slowed the car.
Out of the corner of his eye, he’d seen something unusual — a small dog’s head poking out of a bag on the roadside.
“At first, I thought it was just a farm dog,” Wade told The Dodo. “But then I realized he wasn’t moving. And he was inside a bag. That didn’t make sense.”
The couple, both lifelong dog lovers, pulled over immediately.
Inside a tied-up feed sack, they found a terrified pup with barely any room to move. “It was definitely intentional,” Wade said. “The bottom was tied with rope so he couldn’t get out.”
With nothing sharp on hand, they used a car key to cut the sack open.
Once freed, the little dog trembled as they wrapped him in a coat and carried him to their car.
The Shapps later named him Bubba. Though grateful to be rescued, Bubba was terrified, shaking for hours as he tried to process what had happened.
“He smelled awful — urine all over him,” Wade said, guessing Bubba had been trapped for close to 24 hours.
Back at their home, the couple bathed him, fed him, and made him a warm bed. Slowly, Bubba began to relax. “I think that bath was a turning point,” Wade said. “He knew we were trying to help him.”
The next day, a vet visit revealed just how much Bubba had endured. Despite looking otherwise healthy, he had a large gunshot wound on his upper leg.
“I don’t know how I missed it at first,” Wade said. “It seems like someone shot him, and when that didn’t kill him, they put him in the bag and dumped him.”
Now safe with the Shapps, Bubba is healing and adjusting to a new life filled with love. He’s bonded quickly with the couple’s two other dogs, Isabella and Dixie, and has become especially attached to Wade.
“Wherever I go, Bubba goes,” Wade said. “He wobbles along right behind me.”
Dallas DogRRR has stepped in to help Bubba find a forever home when he’s ready. For now, the Shapps are happily fostering him until he makes a full recovery.
Wade is still in awe of Bubba’s spirit: “For everything he’s been through, he’s such a brave little guy. It’s amazing how quickly he chose to trust us.”
Bubba’s story could have ended in tragedy — but thanks to a chance sighting on a country road and the kindness of strangers, his future is now full of hope.
If you’re interested in adopting Bubba, you can get in touch with Dallas DogRRR.
