Meet Buster.

The rain was coming down in sheets when Carla spotted a small shape huddled beside a dumpster behind a restaurant. At first, she thought it was a pile of rags—but then it moved.

When she got closer, she saw a small terrier mix, drenched and trembling, his fur so matted it was hard to tell where his legs began. He smelled strongly of mildew and garbage, and the hair around his eyes was caked with debris. Despite his condition, the little dog lifted his head and gave a faint tail wag.

At the vet, the staff gently shaved away the mats, uncovering sores where the hair had pulled painfully at his skin. He was underweight, infested with fleas, and had a respiratory infection from prolonged exposure to cold and damp. His medical care—including grooming under sedation, antibiotics, and treatment for parasites— cost $1,500 and was generously covered by Man’s Best Friend, whose help ensured he got the care he needed.

They named him Buster, and after several weeks of recovery, his personality began to shine—playful, curious, and eager for affection. Soon, he was adopted by Carla  and her husband Jim, who take him on daily walks through the neighborhood.

“Buster loves greeting everyone we pass,” Jim says. “You’d never know he was once abandoned in the rain. He’s got a spark now, and he brings so much joy into our home.”