A sweet pitbull was given a second chance at life after being rescued from a hot, stolen bus.
Melissa Geerlof was outside in her neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York when she heard a “screaming” noise coming from an abandoned bus parked on the curb.
After some examination, Melissa realized who was screaming: a pitbull that was trapped inside the hot bus.
The pup was just barely able to peak its snout out the top window enough for Melissa to spot her. Melissa realized the bus was likely stolen and the dog needed to get out, so she called the police and waited with the dog until help arrived.
Melissa shared about the incident on TikTok and said when the police arrived, they were able to free the dog – but she wasn’t out of hot water yet.
The police allegedly told Melissa that the dog would be euthanized if they took her to a shelter because of her poor health. So, Melissa volunteered to bring the pittie home with her and offered the dog a new home.
Melissa named the dog Lexie and shared in a update video that the dog was doing well with her new family and described her as being “such a happy girl.”
Melissa did say that Lexie had some health issues to address, including a double ear infection, an eye infection, and severe skin problems, but they were working with a veterinarian to get her healthy and thriving!
All in all, Lexie was doing fantastic and adjusting well to her new life.
Since that update, Lexie’s skin has improved immensely and she was caught up on her vaccinations. She loves cuddling, playing with her doggy friends, and loving on her new mom.
It’s hard to think about what Lexie’s fate would’ve been if Melissa hadn’t stepped in to intervene. Melissa is a true hero and we’re so glad Lexie was given a second chance at life!
I am broadly interested in how human activities influence the ability of wildlife to persist in the modified environments that we create.
Specifically, my research investigates how the configuration and composition of landscapes influence the movement and population dynamics of forest birds. Both natural and human-derived fragmenting of habitat can influence where birds settle, how they access the resources they need to survive and reproduce, and these factors in turn affect population demographics. Most recently, I have been studying the ability of individuals to move through and utilize forested areas which have been modified through timber harvest as they seek out resources for the breeding and postfledging phases. As well I am working in collaboration with Parks Canada scientists to examine in the influence of high density moose populations on forest bird communities in Gros Morne National Park. Many of my projects are conducted in collaboration or consultation with representatives of industry and government agencies, seeking to improve the management and sustainability of natural resource extraction.
