Fritz Survived the Streets — Help Us Treat His Heartworm

When Backwoods Barker received a call about a stray mom dog and her puppies in rural Kemp, Texas — about an hour and a half away — we expected a simple rescue mission. But when we arrived, our hearts sank. There weren’t just a few dogs. There were fourteen.

The house had been abandoned, and the dogs had been left behind to fend for themselves in the middle of nowhere. Kind community members had been leaving food and water when they could, but the conditions were heartbreaking. Several dogs were trapped in a pen we could barely access, surrounded by what looked like years of feces buildup. One elderly female had a broken jaw, and we were told that several dogs had already been hit by cars and killed before help was finally called.

To make matters even harder, the rescue happened during a rare East Texas ice storm, making every drive dangerous and every trap attempt more difficult. What we thought would be a quick rescue turned into three weeks of trapping efforts. Another rescue stepped in to help, and together we slowly brought the survivors to safety.

Fritz was the very last dog we caught. This sweet 18-month-old chocolate Schnauzer mix had likely had very little human contact before his rescue. Despite everything he endured — abandonment, freezing temperatures, and surviving on his own — Fritz is now safe and beginning to learn what it means to be cared for. But his journey isn’t over yet.

After his rescue, Fritz tested heartworm positive, a sadly common condition for dogs who have been forced to live outdoors without protection or veterinary care. Heartworm disease is serious and potentially fatal, but the good news is that treatment can save his life.

The challenge is that heartworm treatment is expensive, and after weeks of rescuing and providing medical care for multiple dogs from this property, our resources are stretched thin. Fritz survived abandonment. He survived freezing temperatures. He survived life completely on his own. Now he just needs help to get healthy.

Please consider donating toward Fritz’s heartworm treatment so he can finish his recovery and finally have the loving forever home he has always deserved. Every donation — no matter the size — brings Fritz one step closer to a safe, happy future. Thank you for helping us give this brave survivor the second chance he’s waited so long for.