Cleanup Crew Spots Something ‘Plush’ In Trash — Then Realize It’s Breathing

The members of the Missouri Stream Teams cleanup crew in Jefferson City know all about finding treasures in the trash. Over the years, they’ve uncovered everything from mannequins to money. But this past March, team members parsing through a cleanup site discovered something that stopped them in their tracks.

“Until earlier this year, our life-saving efforts were focused on cutting open plastic bottles and rescuing wildlife,” Missouri Stream Teams wrote in a Facebook post about the event. “But what we found this time was beyond our wildest expectations.”

At first, they mistook the fuzzy lump for a stuffed animal. Then they looked closer and realized the truth.

“What initially looked like a dumped, closed bag of stuffed plush animals was, in reality, a scared, cold, thirsty, hungry, shivering puppy dog,” Missouri Stream Teams wrote.

Team members knew exactly what they had to do.

“Immediately, I put my hand on it, and it was warm, and it was alive,” Stream Teams coordination biologist Brian Waldrop told The Dodo. “[I] cradled it, cuddled it, said, ‘Oh, bless you,’ … [I felt] so blessed to have come across this little fella.”

Despite his circumstances, the puppy had no problem trusting his rescuers.

“He was so warm and gentle,” Waldrop said. “[He had] such a kind demeanor.”

Waldrop quickly got to work organizing care for his new friend. The puppy needed food, water, shelter, veterinary attention and a bath.

“[We] got him to a place where it was warm,” Waldrop said. “We gave him some water, and then I called my wonderful girlfriend and said, ‘Get the kitchen sink ready. I’m bringing something home.’”

With a little TLC, the puppy, later named Dude, began to thrive. His dust-covered coat regained its brilliant white shine.

It wasn’t long before Waldrop realized his neighbor was looking to adopt a pet. The circumstances felt like fate.

“He goes, ‘It’s my birthday. And I always wanted a white dog,’ not knowing I already had a white dog coming home,” Waldrop said.

Now Waldrop gets to visit Dude all the time. He’s watched the pup transform into the happiest boy.

“He is such a big, warm, gentle … 60-plus pounds of joy,” Waldrop said.

Waldrop is grateful for his team members, who work tirelessly to maintain the beauty of their local streams. Without them, Dude wouldn’t be where he is today.

“I can’t thank my volunteers enough for picking up all the nasty stuff alongside me,” Waldrop said. “Every once in a while, you find something special out there in the trash.”