Not so long ago, in the city of St. Louis, Missouri, a man disembarked from his bus and spotted a canine companion he had never seen before waiting at his daily stop. As he bid hello to the curious pup and continued on his journey home, he realized he had acquired an unexpected shadow.

This doggo decided to follow him home, so, this man welcomed him into his backyard to keep him safe and gave Stray Rescue of St. Louis (SRSL) a call.

Stray Rescue of St. Louis

Without batting an eyelid, the furry guy amiably followed his new human friend into the fenced area and patiently awaited the arrival of his rescue fellas.

When Donna Lochmann, the top lifesaver-in-charge at SRSL, and her sidekick, Natalie, set foot in the man’s premises, they braced themselves for a skittish and defensive pooch in his backyard. Getting closer to the fence with a leash in hand and ready for a bit of a struggle, they were pleasantly taken aback to find the doggie more than eager to join them.

“From the word ‘go,’ this little guy was already the definition of a sweetheart,” Donna reminisced. “We put his leash on without a hitch, and off he trotted with us on our journey.”

Stray Rescue of St. Louis

Donna and Natalie escorted their new friend, who they named Orville, towards their Jeep. While most rescue dogs relish their liberation rides from the cozy back seat, Orville had a different idea of fun for the ride.

“Natalie and I had him as our road trip buddy up front for most of the ride back,” Donna noted with a smile. “He was just over the moon with excitement.”

Orville’s grin extended from one floppy ear to the other as he set off for the shelter with his saviors. After a period of solitude, the lovable dog was, at last, receiving the adoration and attention he so deserved.

Stray Rescue of St. Louis

As Orville’s tail waved like a flag upon his first venture into the shelter, he had the sweetest, and utterly unexpected, first impression on his new comrades – the clinic’s veterinary folks.

“The minute we brought Orville into the clinic, he made himself comfortable in Molly’s lap,” the SRSL team shared in a Facebook update. “He’s just too adorable for words. We are overjoyed that he’s here and that we can provide him the care and help he needs.”

Stray Rescue of St. Louis

The team started to tend to Orville’s injuries, fed him a nutritious first meal, and helped him out getting cozy in his new living place.

Although Orville’s past remained a mystery to the SRSL team, one thing was certain for him now- he had found his safe haven. A path of recovery lay ahead, but the tenacious dog’s spirit remained unwavering.

“Right from the beginning, he’s been the most lovable, thankful pup,” Donna shared fondly.

Stray Rescue of St. Louis

Nowadays, Orville spends his days in the company of his beloved human friends at the shelter. His health has been remarkably improvement since his rescue, so he is all ready to find his forever family.

While Orville is currently up for foster care or adoption, there hasn’t been a rush of interest to give him a new home. His folks at SRSL have faith that the perfect family come along for Orville soon, but until that happens, they’re more than delighted to enjoy his heartwarming hugs and cuddles.