Thor the Chihuahua is everything an 8-week-old puppy should be: curious, loves to eat, and especially enjoys cuddle and playtime with his new adopted sister.
His life was radically different just a week ago.
Animal control officers in Dickinson, Texas responded to a complaint last Tuesday night about a trash bag sitting on the side of the road, and something appeared to be moving inside it.
Thor, a 3-pound miniature dog, looked at them as they opened it. It was crawling with fleas and covered in blood. His right eye was out of place in its socket, and he was shivering from the cold. Although it was wearing a collar and appeared to have had an owner at some point, it was clear that it had been disposed of there.
Officers took the puppy to Animal Kingdom Pet Hospital and immediately stabilized him, but his right eye was so seriously inflamed that veterinarians decided to remove it. While no one knows how his eye was injured, the scars on his little body indicate that he was most likely attacked by another dog.
“We had no idea if he would survive the surgery to remove his eye,” Christine Smith, a veterinarian at the clinic, told The Dodo. “Fortunately, he qualified and everything went better than expected.”
Thor, who was only 8 weeks old at the time, was rescued in the nick of time. Smith believes that at his age, he would not have survived another night alone in the sack.
Smith spent time with Thor during her recovery, and instantly won her heart. Smith chose to take him home with her so he could heal in a safe environment and to help the local shelter, Bayou Animal Services, which offered to pay for his care.
“The shelter was already overwhelmed with so many pets surrendered this holiday season, so I knew it would be best for him to recover in a home,” she added.
It didn't take long for her to realize how desperate the little dog was for love. Thor is always looking for his foster mother, waiting for her to sit so he can cuddle her.
Thor enjoys cuddle time and naps because he has plenty of soft blankets to keep him warm.
“He is very affectionate and loves nothing more than a cuddle,” she said. "He's a sweet little boy and everyone who meets him falls in love with him."
Thor is recovering well from his surgery and being treated for several parasites, despite his difficult start in life. Because he's so young, he adapts quickly to life with one eye, and it doesn't seem to bother him, according to Smith. The stitches on his eyelid will be removed in the coming weeks, and he will continue to receive dog vaccinations as he grows.
Smith expects he will be ready for a permanent home shortly after the new year.
But for now, he won't leave his foster mother's side – or his beloved blankets.
"Thor is sleeping soundly tonight without a care in the world," he said. “He really is the perfect little puppy.”