In the spring of 2019, volunteers from Stray Rescue of St. Louis (SRSL) received a distressing call about a dog in dire need. The pup had been tied to a fence, his face severely swollen—so much so that it was unrecognizable. When the rescue team arrived, they were shocked by what they saw. The dog, later named Marco, had been suffering for days, his face swollen five times its normal size due to untreated wounds and infection.
Despite his pain, Marco was relieved to see the rescuers. The team acted quickly, freeing him from the fence and rushing him to their animal hospital. There, Marco began a long and difficult recovery process. He was septic, requiring months of IV treatments, antibiotics, and other medications to fight the infection.
The rescue team suspected Marco had been used in dogfighting, but despite his painful past, he showed nothing but love and trust towards the humans caring for him. His resilience amazed everyone who met him.
After months of treatment, Marco made a full recovery, revealing his true face for the first time. Once swollen and suffering, Marco became a happy and healthy dog. He was placed in foster care, where his foster mom, Katie, quickly fell in love with him. It wasn’t long before she adopted him, making Marco a permanent member of her family.
Now, Marco’s days are filled with love and comfort. He enjoys being spoiled, stealing blankets, and surveying his neighborhood from his favorite window. His traumatic past is behind him, and his new family wouldn’t have it any other way.
Katie later shared on SRSL’s Facebook that Marco is the perfect mix of silly, sweet, smart, and protective. They adore their “baby boy,” and Marco, who once endured so much pain, is now living his best life surrounded by love.
