Urgent and heartbreaking: Earl Grey desperately needs you

This is one of the most urgent and heartbreaking cases Flying Pigs Sanctuary has ever seen, and they desperately need your help to care for this sweet boy they named Early Grey.

All winter long, they checked on this dog. He was padlocked to a chain behind a house. He had a dog house—but no straw. Every time the temperatures dropped, they brought him straw so he wouldn’t freeze. Despite everything, he was always so friendly. The owner allowed them to visit when they came by, and they held onto that small window of access to at least make him a little more comfortable. When the weather warmed up, they didn’t check on him as often. He had been a healthy weight all winter, and while his situation was awful, they felt stuck—knowing the only other option would be something drastic, like cutting the chain and taking him, which could have put everything at risk.

Then they got a report about a very skinny dog at that same location.

They were shocked.

They did drive-bys, trying to confirm it was him but never saw him. Weeks passed. Another rescue stepped in and reported it. The shelter attempted to get the owner to surrender him, but the man refused. They were told there wasn’t much else they could do. A neighbor had been feeding him… and they were left trying to figure out how to help, but they also didn’t have space for another dog.

But incredibly, a woman stepped up to foster who had walked up to the man's house—and without hesitation, the man said:

“Take him. I don’t want him anymore.”

Just like that.

He is now SAFE and in Flying Pig Sanctuary's care and his new foster home.

But sadly, he is in very rough shape. They are monitoring his food intake extremely carefully because refeeding too quickly could kill him. He urgently needs a full veterinary evaluation, and they are already stretched thin with the number of animals depending on them right now.

If you are able to give any amount, it would be greatly appreciated. Early Grey and Flying Pigs Sanctuary need you to bring this sweet boy back to health. Thank you.

6/18/26 Update

Thank you to everyone who supported Earl Grey through a hard time. As it turns out, the vet found a large mass in his abdomen. He is scheduled to have surgery and is hoping that it is not cancer.