Woman Rushes To Help Dog Left in 96-Degree Heat—Immediately Falls 'In Love'

The internet has been stunned after a Maryland resident found a dog hiding alone in a bus stop to shelter from the scorching sun.

Kendall McGill, 30, shared footage on TikTok (@bobbiebeaut) of the moment she came across the dog which was left without food and water, despite temperatures reaching 96 degrees Fahrenheit.

There was no question about helping this poor animal, who she named Stacy, so McGill asked passersby if they knew anything about the dog or why she was there. No one seemed to know what happened, but McGill told Newsweek that Stacy was understandably "exhausted and ready to be helped."

The Baltimore woman managed to get Stacy into her car and turned the air conditioning up to try and cool her down. It was imperative to get Stacy out of the heat, but McGill was also sure to keep her calm and soothe her.

Stacy the dog, who was rescued from a bus stop in Baltimore, Maryland. It's unclear how long Stacy was left outside alone for, but McGill managed to feed and bathe her as soon as she... Stacy the dog, who was rescued from a bus stop in Baltimore, Maryland. It's unclear how long Stacy was left outside alone for, but McGill managed to feed and bathe her as soon as she got home. @bobbiebeaut / TikTok

She said: "I asked the people around if she belonged to them, and they said no. Someone left a cup of water for her, but she was in the middle of what seemed to be a heatstroke, so she wasn't drinking it.

"Once we got in the car, she was still panting uncontrollably so I blasted the AC and tried to help calm her down."

Heatstroke in dogs is typically identified by elevated breathing, dry or sticky gums, bruising in the gums, lethargy, and potentially seizures, according to VCA Animal Hospitals. Dogs cannot regulate their temperature by sweating, so their primary way of controlling it is through panting.

Treating heatstroke can be done by pouring cool water on their head, stomach, armpits, and feet, or using cool wet cloths. There should also be a continuous flow of air across the dog, and a vet should be consulted in severe cases.

As she wasn't sure how long the pooch had been outside for, McGill thought Stacy must be hungry. In fact, she was ravenous as she ate two cans of dog food and half a bag of dried food. Once she'd eaten and settled, McGill managed to bathe Stacy and clean her up too.

"We went for a nature walk and got her some toys. Initially she was confused, but then showed her puppyish nature. She was so happy," she said. "She was very calm with my kids and other pets as she met my cat and was friendly. She's super loving and clingy. She stayed by my side the entire time."

While McGill rescued Stacy from the street, she couldn't keep her permanently, as she explained that she already has a dog who wouldn't take well to having another pup in the house.

She only had Stacy for 24 hours but McGill "fell in love her," and cried after surrendering her to Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS). Although she couldn't keep her, McGill knows that Stacy's forever home is out there somewhere, and she will make "a loving companion."

The Social Media Reaction

In a TikTok video posted on July 15, McGill revealed the moment she found Stacy and how she helped her. The video went viral with 1.8 million views and 173,400 likes. After the video gained attention online, McGill shared more videos of Stacy to show how the canine was doing.

"People from all over have seen Stacy's story. I didn't think it would garner so much attention, but I hope it brings awareness to animal cruelty and pray that Stacy gets the love she needs and deserves."

With more than 6,300 comments on the viral video, TikTok users thanked McGill for saving Stacy and making sure she was well-cared for. One comment reads: "Thank you for saving her!! Don't give her back to the owner, he doesn't deserve her."

Another person responded: "She would have died out there omg. She is in the early stages of heat stroke for sure...thank you for saving her life!!"

A third TikTok user added: "It's been extreme heat warnings here everyday and they left her out there. That's so sad."

Do you have any amazing rescue stories that you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.