In the middle of a bitter Texas winter storm, a frightened stray dog wasn’t looking for food or shelter—she was just trying to survive the cold. And the way she did it left an entire city speechless.
It was 9:30 p.m. in San Antonio, and the sky had turned black as freezing rain pelted the streets. Corporal Perry, on duty that night, received a call about an aggressive pit bull barking nonstop outside someone’s home. The caller sounded afraid.
But when Corporal Perry pulled up to the scene, what she saw wasn’t aggression. It was heartbreak.
There, curled up tightly in a discarded child’s car seat surrounded by trash, was a trembling stray dog—skinny, silent, and utterly alone.
“I expected a big, scary dog,” Perry later said. “But what I found was a scared little girl just trying to stay warm.”
The pit bull—later named Martha—didn’t growl, didn’t run. She just looked over her shoulder at the officer, then looked away, as if she was torn between hope and fear. Her ribs showed through her thin fur, and her eyes were clouded with exhaustion.
San Antonio was experiencing one of the harshest storms in years. Even Perry, wrapped in her winter jacket, could feel the bitter cold seeping through. Martha had been living in that weather with no shelter—just a car seat filled with rain and discarded wrappers.
And yet, even in that state, she didn’t lash out. She simply waited.
Corporal Perry slowly approached, gently speaking to her. The closer she got, the more Martha seemed to relax—until finally, the officer opened the door to her warm truck and laid down a blanket.
That’s when Martha made her decision.
She jumped in.
Tail wagging slightly, she curled into the blanket and let herself be scanned for a microchip—there was none. But something else was clear: Martha knew she was finally safe.
At the San Antonio Animal Care Services shelter, Martha gobbled down the food in front of her, starving and grateful. Her eyes sparkled a little more, and she sniffed curiously at a crate of toys nearby. Perry reached in and let her pick one.
She chose a small, stuffed bear—and clung to it like a newborn pup.
“It turns out she was underweight, heartworm positive, and clearly had multiple litters in the past,” said Lisa Norwood, the shelter’s PR manager.
Still, despite her rough past, Martha wanted love more than anything.
And love found her.
After her story was posted online, the Mains family stepped forward, volunteering to foster her and help her transition into a home. They already had three dogs—and Martha quickly became part of the pack.
“She’s still learning how to ‘dog,’” her foster mom joked. “But she follows us everywhere. Sleeps on our bed. Collects all the toys. She’s the sweetest Velcro pup we’ve ever had.”
Her beloved bear—the one from the shelter—is still by her side every night.
Martha is currently undergoing heartworm treatment, slowly gaining weight, and learning what it means to be part of a family. She’s discovering that people can be kind, that soft beds exist, and that cuddles are endless.
Her foster parents say she’s finally letting her personality shine. Playful. Loyal. A little goofy. And deeply loving.
What she needs now is simple:
A forever home.
A warm bed.
A human to follow around.
And, of course, a pile of soft toys.
Because no dog who once slept in a trash-covered car seat should ever have to feel unwanted again.
❤️ Help Martha Find Her Happy Ending
If you’ve ever looked into the eyes of a rescue dog, you know what unconditional love looks like. Martha didn’t ask for much—just warmth. Just a chance. And now, she’s ready to give back tenfold.
Could you be her forever?
👉 Follow San Antonio Animal Care Services to learn how to adopt or support pups like Martha.
👉 Share this story so she can find the family she deserves.
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