On a rainy Sunday morning, an animal lover named Valinda went to the convenience store.
When Valinda pulled into the parking lot, she noticed a heartbreaking sight.
blogs at theanimalrescuesite.greatergood

A dog was lying on the cold, wet concrete.
The puppy was drenched, miserable, and shivering.
“I don’t know where she came from, but I hope she never has to return,” Valinda wrote on Facebook.
“She had a clear eye infection.”
Her hair had become matted.
Her leg was swollen from an open wound.”
But it was Valinda’s destiny to find this poor unwanted dog.

She had blankets in her car because she was going to the animal shelter to drop off some donated pet supplies.
She wrapped the dog in a blanket, but it was clear that the pup was still too scared to move in the rain.

Valinda did something for the poor shaking dog that would change her life forever over the next hour…

Valinda Cortez is an animal rights activist.
The southern mom gives her time and energy to help save abandoned and homeless dogs.

It was early in the morning, and it was raining.
When Valinda pulled into the parking lot on a rainy Sunday, she was still dressed in her pajamas and flip-flops.
But Valinda never made it inside; when she saw the dog soaking wet and alone in the convenience store parking lot, she changed her plans for the day.

Valinda wrote on her Facebook page, “This morning I came across this pitiful, wet, cold, hungry baby.”
We finally got a leash on her after a while of feeding her beef jerky and dog food.

I don’t know where she came from, but I hope she never has to return.”

“She had a clear eye infection.”
Her hair had become matted.
Her leg was swollen from an open wound.
I’d been out in the rain for an hour and was freezing.

I can’t imagine how she was feeling after being out there for so long.”

“I had blankets and dog food in my car that were destined for the shelter.”

They certainly came in handy this morning.”

“Thank you for coming to get her, Sue Massi, my wonderful friend.”
You are unrivaled.

LifeSaving #RescuedIsMyFavoriteBreed”

Sue, Valinda’s friend, also volunteers to rescue stray dogs.
She drove straight to the convenience store to meet Valinda, and the two of them took the dog to the local animal shelter.

It didn’t take long for Cassie, the dog they named, to show off her sweet personality.
She’s changed dramatically now that she’s clean, dry, and fed… as you can see!

Valinda is teaching an important lesson about animal abandonment.

She told The Dodo, “There are always options.”
“What if I drove on, ignoring this cold, wet, hungry dog?”
She could have died from exposure, being hit by a car, or a variety of other causes.

It’s not difficult to find a shelter that will accept your pet.”

I’m so glad Valinda found Cassie on that cold, rainy day.
Best wishes to both of them!

Blog.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com is the source.