This is an amazing story of a woman who put her life in danger in order to save a feral dog.
40-year-old Denise Lauffer braved freezing temperatures for several nights in a row in order to help the elderly stray dog living in Manhattan’s Highland Park in New York City.
The dog named “Charlie” has been a fixture in the upper-Manhattan neighborhood for 10 years. He’s been Highland Park’s “worst kept secret”. When Denise moved to the area a few years ago, she right away noticed Charlie and began leaving food out for him as well. She has four dogs of her own (3 of which were feral, another a stray).
This went on for several years until this past winter, when Denise feared the extreme cold would get the best of the old dog.
GoFundMe
Residents say that Charlie was born in the park roughly 10 years ago and lived with a feral pack of dogs that used to roam freely until 5 years ago when they all disappeared. Charlie, however, was never caught. Denise said, “Charlie was always too smart to fall for our human tricks.” She added, “He no longer has his pack, he’s a slow old man now, and was not going to make it in this extreme cold. He is a handsome mutt that was never dangerous,” Denise wrote on a fundraising page she started to help cover his medical bills.
Denise posted a video of her trying to feed Charlie in early February, but he did not appear to have the energy to even get up and eat.
With temperatures plummeting to below freezing, Denise knew rescuing Charlie needed to happen fast. So she built a makeshift shelter for Charlie in the park and slept alongside him for two full nights in the freezing cold to earn his trust!
“He needs to associate me… [with] food and companionship and heat and warmth,” she told DNAInfo. “I was able to line the bottom of his bed with hand warmers…He loved it.”
During her stay outdoors she was approached by other residents who had been caring for Charlie over the years and they wanted to help. People brought blankets, hot water bottles and hot meals for Charlie.
Finally, after spending several nights in the cold, Denise, along with help from a group of neighbors, managed to coax him into a car and take him to a vet. (He was rescued on February 15, 2015 around 11pm and the outside temperature was -22 degrees.)
“Those who know him love him deeply, we are devoted to saving his life,” said Denise shortly before he was rescued.
After his vet check Charlie went home with one of the neighbors who had been taking care of him. That night he slept indoors for the first time in 10 years!
GoFundMe
Charlie is in good health all things considered. A fundraising page set up by Denise and over $10,000 has been raised to help with his medical care. He’s already been vaccinated and when he is more stable he will be neutered. Of the stoic old dog Denise said, “He is so deserving of the attention and care.” And now, Charlie even has his very own forever home.
I’m so glad Denise bravely stepped forward to help Charlie in his twilight years!
Disclosure: This post may include affiliate links.