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A Desperate Soul on a Frigid Morning
On a bone-chilling January morning, the team at Stray Rescue of St. Louis set out for their first rescue of the year—and what they found would stay with them forever.
Huddled tightly against the base of a home was a thin, shivering dog doing his best to hide from the cold. The wind whipped through the empty streets, but he didn’t move. He was waiting. Not for food or shelter—but for someone, anyone, to show him a bit of kindness.
That moment finally came.
Chief Life-Saving Officer Donna Lochmann led the rescue. As she gently approached the frail dog, he looked up, his eyes filled with both uncertainty and hope.
And then something remarkable happened—he leaned forward and surrendered into her arms.
A Dog Named Nico and a New Beginning
The team named him Nico New Beginnings—or just Nico for short. And true to his name, this was the start of something new for him.
Nico was heartbreakingly thin, weighing only 32 pounds—barely half of what a healthy dog his size should weigh. But he was otherwise in decent condition, a true testament to his will to survive.
What stunned rescuers the most was his trust.
“We walked up to him, and he instantly came to us, so thankful someone finally stopped to help him,” they shared on Facebook.
Most rescues require patience, leashes, and gentle coaxing. But Nico? He let them scoop him up without hesitation and place him gently in the back of the rescue Jeep.
From the Cold to a World of Comfort
Once back at the rescue, Nico quickly became a favorite. His love for affection was undeniable.
“If you open his doors, he just shoots out into your arms at lightning speed,” the team wrote. “He just can’t get close enough to us.”
Soon, Nico transitioned into a foster home, where his healing journey continued. There, he gained weight, wore cozy sweaters, and found joy in soft beds and warm hands.
And kisses. So many kisses. His foster mom says Nico’s favorite thing in the world is giving love back to the people who saved him.
A Future Full of Hope
Nico’s story is more than a tale of survival—it’s a story of transformation, resilience, and the power of love to rewrite a life.
He’s no longer listed as available on the SRSL adoption page—an encouraging sign that he’s found his forever home.
“This is one special boy,” the shelter wrote, reflecting on his incredible journey.
Watch Nico’s emotional rescue in the video below, and let his story inspire you to see the hope that lives inside every soul—just waiting for someone to care.
Watch the Moment Nico Is Rescued from the Cold
From Shivering to Safe—Nico’s Journey Will Touch Your Heart
