'Leopard dog' found tied up in scorching heat, you won’t believe what rescuers discovered

When Arizona Humane Society (@azhumanesociety on TikTok), a Phoenix-based animal shelter, responded to a call regarding a dog with leopard spots, they found Rainbow Brite, a 5-year-old pup, tethered on a short leash outside in the scorching heat without water, along with her 9 babies. The rescue was thanks to a good Samaritan, who spotted Rainbow Brite and her puppies just in time, giving them a new life.

Notably, when the AHS rescue team and medical technicians arrived at the scene, Rainbow Brite's owner agreed to surrender her and her puppies because they couldn't take care of the dog. "We don't know how or when she received her spots, but the condition she was in when our EAMTs arrived on the scene indicated she was in need of help," Joe Casados from AHS shared with Newsweek, explaining how Rainbow Brite wasn't in great condition when found by the team. They said she was underweight, which was alarming, particularly because she was a nursing mama to a litter of 9 puppies. The team rushed Rainbow Brite and her babies to the  AHS Lazin Animal Foundation Second Chance Animal Trauma Hospital for better care, Newsweek reported. 

Meanwhile, when the shelter home shared Rainbow Brite's unbelievable rescue story online, the post received an overwhelming response on social media. For instance, @ashley commented, "There is no way someone paid to have her groomed like that and then abandoned her! My guess is she was dog-napped, and the person didn’t know she was pregnant, so they abandoned her. I hope the real owner is found!" Similarly, @mimimimosaa said, "Aww, 'Rainbow Brite' was my favorite movie in kindergarten. She’s an angel! I hope she and her babies find the most loving homes."

A user who goes by @debrachamberlain4 on TikTok shared, "Thank goodness someone had a heart for this momma and her puppies. I don't get the owners; they gave her up when approached. Why not do it on their own instead of watching them die? Shame on them, and thank you to all who help!" On the other hand, @lexilou818 revealed, "Okay, hear me out… I wouldn’t doubt she was stolen. I dyed my pitty to have cow spots, and you wouldn’t believe how many people think they’re real!"

Since a lot of people were confused thinking that Rainbow Brite was actually abandoned, the animal shelter shared another video, clearing their doubts, and also sharing some happy news. Well, they announced that Rainbow Brite, "the leopard dog," and her babies found a kind foster home, where they are expected to receive all the love they deserve. "Her journey sheds light on the many pets left tied up outside in the scorching heat. The Arizona Humane Society urges pet owners not to tether their pets as it is extremely dangerous," the team wrote. 

Just like Rainbow Brite, unfortunately, a lot of pet owners try to color their animals for their own sake, without realizing how unnecessary it is. "There is no situation where dyeing a pet’s fur is benefiting the animal themselves. It is purely benefiting us for aesthetic purposes. Some dogs enjoy being groomed or being bathed; however, there is no way we can say that animals specifically enjoy being dyed," Dr. Anna Foreman, a vet, shared with HullLive, slashing owners' obsession with coloring their pet's fur.

You can follow Arizona Humane Society (@azhumanesociety) on TikTok for more rescue dog stories.