This story was originally shared on The Animal Rescue Site. Submit your own rescue story here. Your story just might be the next to be featured on our blog!

The morning of July 10, 2009, after a night of severe thunderstorms and tornado warnings, I was out making my rounds as the Animal Control Officer for the city. The storm had left debris, downed branches, and standing water throughout the park. I received a call from the state park stating they found a soggy cardboard box sitting on a table, with eight puppies huddled inside. 

When I arrived, the puppies were cold and soaked from the storm. They were only about four weeks old and weighed barely over a pound each. Someone had abandoned them there during the worst of the weather, and they were fighting to stay alive.

Photo: Cheryl Erickson

Eight puppies were abandoned in a storm-soaked cardboard box.

I rushed them to the vet clinic, where the vet techs and I immediately began drying them off, wrapping them in towels, and doing what we could to warm them up. When the veterinarian arrived and examined each one, he didn’t think any of them would survive. Still, we refused to give up.

As we worked, one little brown and white pup caught my eye. His eyes met mine with a look that said he wasn’t ready to quit, and right then I knew he was coming home with me. That was the moment I found Loki.

Despite all odds, six of the puppies pulled through. Two were just too weak and passed not long after. The surviving five each found loving homes through Partners for Pets. Loki, though, stayed with me.

Photo: Cheryl Erickson

The puppies were only four weeks old and severely chilled.

He was meant to be a gift for my son, but when I told him about the puppy, he grinned and said, “Well, that makes you Granny now.” It didn’t take long before everyone started calling me Granny, and Loki became Granny’s Baby. He quickly turned into my constant companion and the heart of our home, full of life, love, and a personality you couldn’t help but adore.

For sixteen pawsome years, Loki brought laughter, joy, and comfort to everyone who knew him. His story touched countless hearts, proving that even in the darkest moments, hope can still be found. When Loki passed away in May of 2025, it broke my heart, but his story didn’t end there. His strength and spirit became the inspiration for Loki’s Legacy Rescue.

Our mission is to give abandoned, neglected, and forgotten animals the same chance Loki had, and to help veterans by partnering them with rescues. Through these partnerships, veterans can find purpose, companionship, and healing while helping animals in need. Loki’s life began in a soggy cardboard box after a storm, but his legacy will continue to bring light, love, and hope to both animals and the veterans who care for them.

Because every life deserves a chance to be loved. 🐾💖

This story was originally shared on The Animal Rescue Site. Share your very own rescue story here!