Concerned caller leads PA shelter workers to dogs who ‘could barely make a sound’
Two dogs in Philadelphia are safe after a concerned person made a phone call to a shelter about their welfare.
Meet Big-Boy and Axe, a pair of pups who were so malnourished that they could hardly get a sound past their mouths, the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) said in a Facebook post. But thankfully, someone noticed them.
“‘Please check on these animals. They can barely bark,’” the shelter repeated in a Aug. 15 post. “Earlier this week, a Good Samaritan reached out to us after discovering two dogs in a rear yard with no food, no water, and no shelter from the heat. They were so weak they could barely make a sound.”
What they found was nothing short of shocking.
“Our Animal Law Enforcement team quickly responded and found Big-Boy and Axe living in unsanitary conditions, clearly in need of urgent care,” the shelter said.
“Big-Boy was thin and undernourished, but his companion, Axe, was far worse. He was emaciated - scoring a 5/5 on the Tufts Animal Care and Condition scale, the lowest possible score for a living animal. His body bore pressure sores and scars, signs of prolonged suffering.”
Neglect is visible in the photo of Axe the shelter shared, with his ribcage protruding from his fur.
“Both dogs were immediately brought to our Philadelphia headquarters for treatment,” the shelter said.
“Big-Boy is receiving monitoring and supplemental care, while Axe has begun a carefully supervised refeeding plan and ongoing wound treatment. His recovery will be slow, but each day he gains more strength and more hope.”
Big-Boy already has his pet profile set up on the shelter’s website and is awaiting a home where he can finally feel safe and loved.
For more information about other adoptable pets, visit the shelter’s website.
This story was originally published August 15, 2025 at 4:10 PM with the headline "Concerned caller leads PA shelter workers to dogs who ‘could barely make a sound’."