Found in a Dumpster and Nearly Put Down, This Dog Gets a Second Chance at Life

Love has the power to change lives, and Clara Catarina’s story is proof of it!

She was found in horrible condition in a dumpster, but thanks to the love and care of her owner, Márcia, she escaped a tragic ending: euthanasia.

This cutie’s story began to change in November 2022, when Márcia and her friend Telma were at a vet clinic in São Paulo, Brazil, following up on the treatment of another one of Márcia’s dogs.

At that moment, a man arrived in a truck and pulled a dog out of a plastic bag in the bed of the vehicle.

They could hardly believe the pitiful state the poor animal was in.

Intrigued and concerned, Márcia listened closely to the sad story the man had to tell about the little dog.

He explained that he had found her in a dumpster, suffering from a tumor, and was willing to pay to have her put down to relieve her suffering.

Those words moved Márcia and Telma, who decided to adopt her and give her a second chance at life.

“Her fur was completely matted, wet, and covered in mud. She couldn’t even walk because of it,” Márcia told Amo Meu Pet (our Brazilian website about pet news). “She had a lot of ticks and a large tumor.”

Clara Catarina was under the care of nurses and, once groomed, was revealed to be extremely thin and starving.

She ravenously ate two bowls of kibble that were offered to her on the stretcher.

The tumor was already oozing, and she also had pyometra. In December, she underwent surgery to remove the tumor, mammary tissue, uterus, and ovaries.

Surprisingly, within just a few days, Clara was already walking and eating.

“She wanted to live so badly that within two days she was walking and eating as if nothing had happened,” she recalled.

Clara found a home at Márcia’s house, since her friend Telma, a 76-year-old woman, already takes care of many animals with physical limitations.

The dog was given a compound name because, for Márcia, it’s impossible to express all the love she feels with just one name.

Additionally, she responds to several affectionate nicknames, including Katy, Titi, and Titirine.

Márcia believes Clara has abandonment trauma because every time she takes her for a car ride, the little dog showers her with kisses, as if begging not to be left behind. So sweet!

“Anyway, Clara is a sweetheart—so grateful. She brings joy to our home. She’s very friendly, and everyone is enchanted by her. She’s wonderful,” she concluded.

Márcia jokes that she’s “Clara Maria Braga,” an affectionate nod to the famous TV host. Regardless of the name her owner chose, Clara Catarina is a living example of resilience and gratitude.

Without a doubt, Márcia’s journey with this little warrior is a true story of love and resilience!

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