Just days before Halloween, the team at Stray Rescue of St. Louis (SRSL) encountered something eerie — and heartbreaking — on a neighborhood drive. Perched on the side of the road was a hunched, shadowy figure staring silently at them.
“He was curled up like a little gargoyle…” SRSL recalled in a Facebook post.
At first glance, the small, stone-still creature could've passed for a Halloween prop. But the rescuers instantly recognized what they were really looking at: a frightened and hurting dog in desperate need of help.
“He had the saddest, frowniest little face,” SRSL shared. “Clearly scared and in pain.”
The pup — later named Guillermo de la Cruz — was too weak and sore to flee. So when Chief Life Saving Officer Donna Lochmann and her team approached with calm voices and a leash, he didn’t resist. Guillermo allowed them to gently slip the loop around his neck.
Though still anxious, the dog didn’t fight being led to safety. And once inside the rescue vehicle, something shifted.
“As soon as he realized he was safe, he exhaled deeply and relaxed,” SRSL wrote. “You’re safe now, sweet angel.”
Guillermo arrived at the shelter that same day, where the team immediately began tending to his wounds, malnutrition, and emotional trauma. With gentle care, nourishing food, and plenty of affection, he began to transform — inside and out.
“Guillermo de la Cruz is now a total show-stopper,” SRSL proudly shared. “This choco chonk of a lovebug has soulful puppy eyes and a noggin worthy of legend.”
Within weeks, the timid, skeletal pup was gone. In his place stood a confident, chunky sweetheart with a soft heart for every dog and human he met.
“His heart is made of butter,” SRSL wrote. “He’s all love.”
Soon, Guillermo was thriving in a foster home — and it didn’t take long for the perfect forever family to find him. Now, he shares his life with two canine brothers (Jax and Flex), one sister (Lucy), and two loving humans who are completely smitten.
“He hit the jackpot,” SRSL said in an update. “And so did we.”
Once a lonely figure on the street, Guillermo de la Cruz now lives surrounded by warmth, family, and joy. His story is a testament to what a second chance — and a lot of love — can do.
To support more life-saving rescues like Guillermo’s, you can donate to Stray Rescue of St. Louis here.
