A rescue dog who was only days away from being put down has been given a second chance after a woman decided to foster him.
Stitch, a bully mix, ended up at Fulton County Animal Services after his owners gave him up because of money problems. Suddenly, he needed a new home through no fault of his own. But because animal shelters across the country are overcrowded, Fulton County Animal Services had to make the heartbreaking choice to place Stitch on the euthanasia list.
Sadly, this happens to about 607,000 animals every year, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Luckily, Stitch’s story changed when Abigail Hester, 24, saw his picture online. She told Newsweek that she “knew he was the one” as soon as she saw his face.
Hester is no stranger to rescue work—she has fostered eight dogs before Stitch.
“I knew I was going to foster a dog that week, so when the list came out, I looked and immediately picked him out without knowing anything about him,” she said.
Her first time meeting Stitch in person was emotional. “He was terrified. He had to be carried around the shelter because he was too afraid to walk. But he still came up to me for affection, and I could tell he wanted so badly to trust.”
When Hester came to take him home, Stitch was so nervous that he barely moved. A volunteer had to help coax him toward her car.
“You could tell he had no idea where he was going—the shelter had become his home,” she said.
Since then, Stitch has started to relax and show his true personality. Hester doesn’t know how long she’ll foster him, but she’s happy to give him a safe place for now.
“He’s a really good dog. I can tell he’s never been in a house before because he’s unsure indoors, but outside he’s much more confident. He loves stuffed toys and blankets—anything cozy,” she said.
Stitch is still recovering. “He’s getting through his decompression, getting over a cough, and he needs to be neutered. So he has a few weeks before he’ll be ready for adoption.”
Hester shared a video on TikTok (@abigailhester_) showing the moment she brought home “the most fearful dog” and saved him from the euthanasia list. The clip has already been viewed more than 28,900 times and has received over 4,600 likes.
She says sharing her foster experiences online has been positive. Not only does she want to show that bully breeds are loving, but she also hopes to encourage others to foster or adopt pets in need.
“There’s always negative comments about bully breeds, but I try to ignore it because until you’ve saved the life of one, you don’t know the love they have to give,” Hester told Newsweek.
She added: “We always need fosters and adopters. There are all kinds of dogs—big, small, fluffy, old, hiking buddies, couch potato dogs, and puppies. Fostering is free and such a great way to help. It’s low commitment but makes a huge difference.”
The TikTok video has received over 100 comments, with many people thanking Hester for saving Stitch.
One user wrote: “Thank you a thousand times for all you do to save them.”
Another said: “Can’t wait for an update on this sweet baby.”
A third person added: “Stitch couldn’t have asked for a better foster.”
