One ordinary spring day, a simple phone call changed everything for Stephanie Smith-Justus — and saved a life no one thought could be saved.
A worried neighbor had spotted a dog in desperate shape but didn’t know how to help. Without hesitation, Stephanie, who tirelessly runs the Buchanan County Humane Society in Virginia, grabbed her husband and rushed out the door, following only hope and a neighbor’s description.
Hours of searching through thick woods brought nothing but heartbreak, until her husband spotted a fragile figure hidden among weeds. The puppy, barely four months old, looked burned at first glance — but the truth was even worse: he was battling a severe case of demodectic mange that ravaged his tiny body like a second-degree burn.
Fate, however, stepped in again. Just down the street, a veterinarian had recently moved in. Stephanie didn’t waste a second — she scooped up the puppy and burst into the vet’s house without even knocking.
There, they learned just how badly he’d been suffering: multiple pellet gun wounds, collapsed intestines from starvation, deformed ankles, and an agonizing skin infection that left him leaking fluids wherever he lay.
They named him Watkins, after the street where he was found — and braced for the worst. Even the vet doubted he’d survive the night. Yet when the sun rose, Watkins was still fighting.
His fight was far from easy. Emergency surgery, feeding tubes, setbacks, and more setbacks filled his days. Sometimes it felt like nothing could go right. But every time hope flickered, Watkins held on tighter. He spent nearly four months under constant care, split between the vet’s office and Virginia Tech’s intensive care unit.
During this time, something beautiful bloomed. Strangers from across the country — and even beyond — fell in love with Watkins’ story. Blankets, beds, and well-wishes poured in. A Facebook page chronicling his journey gathered thousands of followers, each rooting for one battered puppy’s chance at a new life.
Against every odd, Watkins returned home with Stephanie in July. Healing didn’t happen overnight. He still needed weekly treatments and vet visits. His legs sometimes gave out — until one day, he surprised everyone by standing tall and walking properly, as if he knew it was time to let hope win.
Today, Watkins is blossoming into the joyful, mischievous dog he always deserved to be. He races through the yard, snuggles his favorite toy lobster, and showers everyone — even rescued kittens from a house fire — with gentle love. He still takes medication to manage the anxiety left by his painful past, but every new day brings a brighter version of the puppy no one expected to live.
Stephanie calls him a miracle. So does every vet who once shook their head in doubt. Watkins’ story reminds us what compassion, community, and a dog’s unbreakable spirit can do.
If this miracle rescue dog story touched your heart, consider helping other animals like Watkins by adopting, fostering, or supporting your local shelter. Together, we can make sure no dog has to face the world alone.
