Small Puppy Abandoned In A Box Grows Into A Strong And Beautiful Dog

In the middle of the night, someone left Jiminy Cricket all alone in a cardboard box in an empty parking lot.

They probably thought no one would see—but security cameras caught everything.

Thanks to that, rescuers were able to find him before it was too late.

From Left Behind To Loved So Much

Jiminy was taken to the Bainbridge Decatur County Humane Society, and his condition was so dire that they feared he might not survive.

Source: Leon County Humane Society

The shelter was already overwhelmed with stray animals, so a volunteer from the Leon County Humane Society (LCHS) in Tallahassee, Florida, quickly stepped in to help.

Once in Tallahassee, Jiminy was rushed to a veterinary clinic for urgent care. Thanks to the dedicated staff, Jiminy began to recover.

A foster mom named Shannon Colavecchio, who had heard about Jiminy’s incredible fight to live, offered to take him in.

Shannon recalled, according to The Dodo: “I went to the vet and picked him up. The first couple of days he was very scared. His tail was tucked, but he was eating. That was a good sign.” Despite being weak and sick, Jiminy was a sweet puppy.

Source: Leon County Humane Society

During his first week with Shannon, Jiminy spent most of his time resting, but soon he started to open up. He began allowing snuggles and even started to walk around more.

The Leon County Humane Society shared an update on Facebook about Jiminy’s progress: “Jiminy is in foster care, and he is beyond spoiled. His foster mom showers him with affection and toys. He wears a sweater since he doesn’t have any body fat to warm him, and he has plenty of outfits to choose from. Some he will have to grow into.”

Source: Leon County Humane Society

By the third week, Jiminy was eating better, playing like any other puppy, and showing off his lively personality.

Within a month, he was almost fully healthy—his fur had grown back, he had gained weight, and he was thriving.

When Fostering Turns Into Forever

When Jiminy was well enough to be adopted, Shannon faced a familiar dilemma. She had fostered other dogs before and found them permanent homes. However, Jiminy had captured her heart in a special way.

Shannon admitted, “Selfishly, I want to adopt him to somebody that I know, so that I can still be Aunt Shannon.”

Source: @sharbonnethrives

However, Shannon and her family soon realized they couldn’t part with Jiminy. He had become an irreplaceable member of their family, just like the three other foster dogs they had adopted before him.

Source: @sharbonnethrives

Shannon joyfully shared, “We’ve had him since February 19, 2020, when he was barely 4 pounds and sick, covered in mange, and this dog has been with us and has become such a part of our family. So we have decided that Jiminy Cricket is staying with us and is going to be our fourth rescue dog and maybe our most special one. He is an amazing dog. We love him so much, and I’m officially the crazy dog lady.”

Jiminy Cricket now lives happily with Shannon and her family, leaving his difficult past behind.