On Halloween morning in El Monte, California, Gloria and Guillermo Reyes spotted something strange on the curb outside a church across the street from their home. A cardboard box sat there, wrapped tightly in a black garbage bag.
At first, they thought it was just trash. But then, they saw the bag move.
Curious and concerned, the couple walked over. To their shock, a tiny snout was pushing through a hole in the cardboard, desperately trying to chew its way out.
The Reyeses quickly tore open the box and discovered a golden retriever puppy — weak, frightened, and struggling to breathe.
“They were shocked,” said Piper Wood, founder of Hand in Paw Rescue. “It’s hard to understand how someone could leave a puppy to die like that.”
The couple contacted their relative, Berni Gutierrez, who immediately reached out to Wood for help.
“I said, ‘Get the dog to the vet right now, and I’ll meet you there,’” Wood recalled.
The puppy, only about 8 weeks old, had likely been trapped inside the sealed box for over 24 hours. Wood worried about oxygen deprivation — and while the little dog was sluggish and frail, vets soon discovered the true cause of his decline.
He was suffering from parvovirus, a dangerous and often deadly disease that attacks a dog’s intestines.
“He’s very lethargic right now … but he does wag his tail and give kisses,” Wood said. “You can already tell he’s going to be a wonderful dog — he’s just not feeling well.”
Wood suspects the puppy, now named Dexter, was abandoned by a backyard breeder after he became sick. Sadly, she says, this happens far too often.
“As soon as these dogs show signs of illness, they’re tossed out,” Wood explained. “It’s heartbreaking.”
Despite his rough start, Dexter is finally safe and receiving the treatment he needs. And once he’s recovered, Wood is determined to find him the loving forever home he deserves.
The demand to adopt Dexter is already overwhelming.
“We’ve had hundreds of adoption offers for him,” Wood said. “He’s a golden retriever — he’s absolutely adorable.”
For now, Dexter is resting and healing, surrounded by people who care. His story, though heartbreaking, has already touched countless lives — and his future is looking much brighter.
Hand in Paw Rescue is offering a $2,000 reward for information about who abandoned him in El Monte. If you have any leads, or would like to donate to help other dogs, you can contact Hand in Paw.
