It’s truly heartbreaking to think of people who would purposefully harm animals and leave them to suffer. Thankfully, there are also heroes among us. I’d like to extend my thanks to Bret Winingar and his son, Zach. During a motorcycle ride along the picturesque back roads of Little Rock, Arkansas, Bret and Zach came across an old dog crate on the roadside.

Curious, they decided to investigate further. To their surprise, they found a severely malnourished dog inside. The carrier was covered in filth, and the dog had even chewed a hole in the cage, seemingly in an attempt to escape.

The father and son left briefly to return with a car, food, and water. They named their new companion Charlie Bravo.

From the moment she stepped out, Charlie Bravo showed her appreciation to her rescuers. Bret and Zach started by trimming her overgrown claws, which had caused her pain and difficulty walking, and then gave her a much-needed bath.

Afterward, Charlie was taken to the vet, where she was estimated to be around eight months old. The vet noted signs that suggested she’d been confined in the carrier for quite some time.

Charlie Bravo’s story quickly spread on Facebook. Soon, Bret and Zach received donations from strangers wanting to help cover her medical costs. The family chose to donate the remaining funds to several animal charities and even started a special fund called “Charlie’s Angels” to support other rescues.

Though Bret hadn’t originally planned to keep Charlie, he couldn’t bear to part with her. Since then, he and his family have taken in three more rescued dogs. Let’s take a moment to thank these wonderful heroes who went above and beyond to save an innocent dog’s life.

If you feel moved by their story, don’t hesitate to share!