Dogs Find Joy 'For the First Time' After Rescue From Horrendous Conditions

Some people dedicate their lives to rescuing animals, and a recent Instagram video posted by AjaNikiya Estro reiterated why these people are sadly necessary.

In the video, Estro can be seen investigating a derelict and filthy house in Juncos, Puerto Rico, and what she finds is shocking. Multiple starving and emaciated cats and dogs imprisoned in tiny cages.

"While I was dropping off supplies in a community right after Hurricane Maria in 2017, I heard a dog crying through the window of my van," Estro told Newsweek. "I immediately pulled over to investigate and what I found was something I will never forget. A dilapidated home, missing almost every wall and roof, full of cages and crates of starving animals. As I walked around the property I kept finding more and more animals. They were in tiny milk crates, boxes and cages that had been secured with wire so they could not escape."

"I was overwhelmed and unprepared for what I found," she continued. "I kept thinking about what they went through before the hurricane and after. The daily abuse they endured to then go through a category 4 hurricane in cages. How scared they must have been, how much suffering they had endured. It was unimaginable."

Each year 6.3 million pets are surrendered to U.S. shelters, which is an average of 17,260 a day, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The number of dogs and cats taken in by pet shelters hit 46,807 during January 2023, an increase of 1,744 compared with January 2022, the 24Pet 'Shelter Watch Report' found. Around 920,000 surrendered animals are euthanized every year. Shelters are striving to minimize euthanasia rates by promoting adoption campaigns, spaying and neutering programs, and behavior rehabilitation.

Estro rescued 14 animals in total, six dogs and eight cats, "all emaciated, scared, starving and covered in cuts and wounds," she said, "some had trouble walking due to the confinement in such small crates."

In a follow up video, Estro shows a cat with a wound on its head, probably from rubbing itself on the metal of the tiny cage.

This mass rescue was made even harder as Estro had no way of transporting the animals.

"We began walking around the neighborhood on foot looking for someone to help us," said Estro. "We approached a house with a truck outside and asked the owner if we could use the truck to transport the animals. He agreed! Now we just needed a place for the animals to go. Earlier in the day I had come across an abandoned animal shelter and thought I might be able to place the animals there overnight. I didn't remember exactly where it was but we set out to find it. We loaded the truck with all 14 animals and headed towards the direction of the shelter.

"We spent an hour on the road, me in the back of the truck with the dogs, trying to find the shelter and hoping we didn't get stopped by police. Finally, we found the shelter and set up the animals in whatever cages we could find. We set them up with food, water and towels and hoped for the best."

Estro was able to identify the owner by talking to her neighbors. "They told us she would hit their cages with brooms and shovels to make them stop barking," she said.

The video also shows the rescued animals being able to find joy "for the first time" after their horrible ordeal.

"Sadly one of the cats passed away but the others all made it! Every dog and cat went into foster care, received the medical care they needed and once they were ready for adoption, they all found forever homes," she said.

"I've seen them transform from fearful and neglected to trusting and happy," Estro added. "But beyond the immediate impact on individual animals, I rescue because I believe in the ripple effect of compassion. By saving one life, we set an example for others, inspire change in our communities, and work towards a more humane and empathetic world. Rescuing animals is not just a duty; it's a calling that brings immense joy and fulfillment to my life. Knowing that I can be a part of their second chance and that I can contribute to a world where animals are treated with kindness and respect is my driving force."

"They are so grateful and happy, bless them, thank you a million times," commented one user. "OMG who would keep animals in these conditions, thank you for saving them," wrote another.

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