Early last year, staff members of Stray Rescue of St. Louis (SRSL) held a fundraiser for a specific piece of equipment that would aid their rescue missions: a FLIR thermal imagining camera. With a few months left of winter weather and early sunsets, they hoped the infrared camera would help them save more lives than usual.

Thankfully, they raised enough money to buy the FLIR camera. The life-changing piece of equipment arrived just in time to respond to a concerned truck driver’s call for help one March evening.

“A truck driver took a break in a park and found this puppy on a trash can at sunset,” SRSL wrote on Facebook. “When we arrived, it was pitch black. The puppy was no longer in the tub.”

Donna Lochmann, SRSL’s chief life saving officer, arrived at the park with her usual rescue tools: a flashlight, a leash and some high-value treats. But this time, instead of using her flashlight to scan through the unlit park, Lochmann whipped out the FLIR camera.

Lochmann fixed her eyes on the screen as she scanned the park with the camera. Moments later, an orange-and-yellow blob appeared on the screen, snuggled deep within a wooded area. She walked towards the blob and soon uncovered the tiny tan puppy.

“We would have NEVER found him without the FLIR camera!” SRSL wrote. “Thank you to everyone who chipped in for our camera. Because of you, he has a fighting chance.”

You can watch footage from the rescue here:

Lochmann gently scooped the puppy up from his dark, cold hiding place, then carried him to her Jeep. She drove him straight to SRSL’s veterinary clinic, where he was quickly diagnosed with a debilitating case of parvo.

The puppy, aptly named Flir, had a long road of recovery ahead, but luckily he had a dedicated veterinary team supporting him. After a few weeks of isolation and daily treatment, Flir started to gain weight and become more active. Slowly but surely, Flir was healing.

“[He’s] our miracle boy!” SRSL wrote on Facebook.

By the end of the month, Flir was healthy enough to go into foster care while searching for a forever home. The day he left the clinic for foster care will forever be memorable to the staff who cared for him for weeks.

“He’s spreading his wings,” SRSL wrote on Facebook. “His life begins today.”

Flir enjoyed his few weeks of foster care but still hoped for a forever family. Then, Stephanie Meyer Schmitz inquired about him, and within a few weeks, the adoption was approved.

“I would like everyone to meet the newest addition to the Schmitz family: Oliver Flir Schmitz!!!” Schmitz wrote on Facebook. “My sweet little man, you are home with a family who loves you, who will protect you and cherish you!!”

Flir, now named Oliver, thoroughly enjoyed his first year in his forever home. From adventuring outdoors with his parents to cuddling with them on the couch and celebrating birthdays together, Oliver’s life improved tenfold. As he grew bigger, his puppy-like personality blossomed, bringing immense joy to his adoptive family.

“Little Man (as we like to call him) is full of life and mischief,” Schmitz wrote on Facebook. “He is the typical puppy, and we love him to pieces …”

With parents who loved him unconditionally, Oliver’s life was nearly perfect. The only thing missing was a fellow canine playmate with whom to enjoy it. That’s when Poppy entered the picture.

“Please welcome the newest member to the Schmitz family: Miss Poppy, [Oliver’s] baby sister!” Schmitz wrote on Facebook. “Both our fur babies were saved by SRSL, and we can’t image our family without them!”

Oliver was ecstatic to welcome Poppy into the family, and the two have been bonding ever since. Once a tiny, sick puppy fending for himself in a dark, cold park, Oliver now has a family who loves him and the life he always dreamed of.

And his friends at SRSL couldn’t be happier for him.

“[N]ot only did this brave little puppy survive, but he grew up to be a big, handsome boy!” SRSL wrote on Facebook. “He’s living a beautiful life.”

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“[He] is the most playful bear I have seen within the protected area” 🥹

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Source: The Wall Street Journal