In the early days of November, a dog that was malnourished was found locked up inside a house located in Costa Rica. The dog was discovered by a woman named Mercedes Mora, who loves dogs and is affiliated with an animal rescue organization known as Charlie’s Angels Animal Rescue – Costa Rica (CAARCR). She immediately gave the dog food before bringing him to the charity.
An ongoing investigation is being conducted on how the dog ended up in such a terrible condition. Rescuers reported that the dog was so weak that he couldn’t even lift his head. Tania Cappelluti, the founder of CAARCR, said in an interview with The Dodo:
“When I saw this poor dog lying in a cage, almost all skin and bones, it took all my strength not to break down… rescuing animals can be a challenge, and we face many unpleasant situations. Unfortunately, Leon’s case is one of the worst I’ve ever witnessed.”
Cappelluti chose to name him Leon, inspired by the lion’s strength, after being taken aback by his condition. This name proved to be quite appropriate as Leon began showing positive signs of progress. The sight of food in his bowl brought about excitement as he devoured everything and even licked the bowl clean. His resilience and determination to survive were evident, as he fought for his life.
The veterinarians discovered that Leon was suffering from anemia which required more than just food and basic care for his full recovery. The charity organization sought the help of a Rottweiler named Norman, who could donate blood to Leon. The organization posted on local social media platforms to search for a healthy donor dog weighing more than 55 pounds, but two potential donors were too far away. Cappelluti contacted an old friend, Jose Lobo, who owned a dog named Norman. Lobo immediately brought Norman to the vet’s office where he was confirmed to be healthy enough to donate blood. Although Norman remained relaxed during the process, Lobo almost fainted out of fear.
According to Lobo, who spoke with The Dodo, Norman was the perfect donor. Although Lobo stayed by his side throughout, he had to step out of the room as soon as he saw all the blood. On the other hand, Norman was incredibly brave and remained relaxed throughout the process. Lobo even noticed a look in his eyes that seemed to say, “Don’t worry, let’s do this.”
Norman’s relatives are filled with pride for his actions towards Leon. As a token of appreciation, Cappelluti offered some gifts, including a pink tennis ball, which Norman adores. According to veterinarians, Leon is steadily recuperating and will soon be available for adoption once he regains his strength.