Dog was found ‘cowering’ under a box as snow hit SC. Now, he gets a second chance
A dog was found “cowering” under a box as snow hit South Carolina — then his luck changed for the better.
Chowder, who was rescued during a winter storm, is now safe and receiving much-needed care for his “mangled” leg.
“You would never know what he has been through,” Emily Zheng, marketing manager for the Greenville Humane Society, told McClatchy News in a Jan. 22 email. “He is the happiest, sweetest boy. He loves everyone he meets and has been incredibly tolerant of all the medical procedures he requires. He continues to show understanding and we’re so in love with him.”
Chowder got a second chance after he was spotted Jan. 10. At the time, a blast of winter weather hit the Greenville area, dumping about 1 to 2 inches of snow, according to the National Weather Service.
“Found cowering under a cardboard box during the snowfall, Chowder was injured and desperate for a place to stay warm,” the humane society wrote in a Facebook post. “He was all alone, just doing his best to survive. Unsure of how long he stayed there for shelter, he was found by someone nearby.”
That’s when the rescuer brought the “abandoned” dog to safety. The 2-year-old German shepherd went to a vet, where a microchip helped workers find contact information for his owner.
“Without answer, they attempted to call several more times, but their number had been blocked,” the animal shelter wrote. “It was clear. They didn’t want Chowder anymore.”
Chowder landed at a Greenville-area shelter before he was transferred to the humane society. Though his new facility doesn’t know how he injured his leg, he’s finally receiving treatment.
“Chowder is the sweetest, most loving pup,” the humane society wrote. “To this day, even after seeing thousands of heartbreaking cases year after year, it still baffles us how pets are so forgiving. He trusted us immediately. He let us change his bandage without issue.”
As of Jan. 22, the attention-loving dog wasn’t yet up for adoption. He will have to heal and go into a foster home before he’s available, possibly in several weeks, according to Zheng.
Details about the shelter’s adoption process can be found at greenvillehumane.com. The shelter asks anyone interested in meeting Chowder to send a message on one of its social media pages or reach out via email at greenvillehumane@greenvillehumane.com.
This story was originally published January 22, 2025 at 2:36 PM with the headline "Dog was found ‘cowering’ under a box as snow hit SC. Now, he gets a second chance."
