In Texas, there's a special place called the Off The Grid Animal Sanctuary (OTGAS). They're all about rescuing and taking care of animals of all kinds. The one who runs the place is Bionca Smith, and she just loves every one of these critters.
One day, a poor homeless dog showed up at the sanctuary's gate, and the OTGAS crew, who are always on the lookout for newcomers, noticed the pup right away. Dirty and downtrodden, the stray pup found his way to the sanctuary, hoping that someone could help him.
Source: Off The Grid Animal Sanctuary
Right when Bionca heard his sounds loudly outside the gate, she rushed over to meet this four-legged visitor. “He showed up at our gates at our sanctuary 10 minutes ago,” Smith wrote in an Instagram post. “I heard the dogs barking like crazy, so I [looked] at the gates and noticed a dog looking in.”
At first, the dog looked kind of big and tough, and she wasn't sure what to do. But then she saw the sadness in his eyes, and it all changed.
“I could tell he was looking for help, but his face was a little intimidating to me for a brief moment,” Smith wrote. “I could’ve been afraid he’d bite me. He could’ve been afraid I’d hurt him, but because of the connection that comes with being at the right place at the right time... when you know, you know!”
Source: Off The Grid Animal Sanctuary
Despite a little hesitation, Bionca quickly felt a connection with the dog, and she decided to name the new friend Deputy.
To calm the dog down and gain his trust, Bionca spoke softly to the pup and tried to gently touch him. Gradually, Deputy became more familiar with her, and this big boy finally knew that he was safe with her. He even reached out a paw like he was asking for help, and that was it—Bionca was smitten.
Later, Bionca brought Deputy into the sanctuary. He had to go through a short quarantine period before actually getting along with the other animals. But first, there was an important introduction through a fence—he had to meet Kumo, the top dog in the pack.
“Kumo is our guardian dog,” Smith wrote in the video. “[He’s] the alpha of our pack and the friendliest [dog] ever. Before Deputy can enter, they must meet before quarantine.”
Kumo was super excited to welcome Deputy, and you know what? He even stuck his own paw through the fence as a friendly gesture. It was the start of Deputy becoming a part of the crew.
Source: Off The Grid Animal Sanctuary
Just a week later, Deputy finished his quarantine and became an official part of the OTGAS family. He spends his days playing with his doggy pals and snuggling up to his new best friend, Bionca.
Deputy is really getting comfy and has made the sanctuary his home. Bionca dreams of finding him a forever home someday, but before it actually happens, he can still live his best life in a safe and loving place.
“He’s becoming more and more comfortable, that’s for sure,” Smith shared. “He’s made himself right at home …”
For more interesting stories about the animal kingdom, check out our Homepage now!