An unexpected social media post led one New Yorker to rescue an abandoned Pit Bull mix in the New York City subway. The woman first saw the listing on an Instagram account called NYC Free at the Curb, a virtual community that shares unwanted belongings.
New Yorker rescues abandoned Pit Bull mix in NYC subway
A plethora of discarded items ends up on the streets of New York. Because it is illegal to dump items on the curb, many use social media sites to thrift their unwanted belongings. At any time, city dwellers may pass bulk items on the street. New Yorkers’ code for discard usually states “if it’s on the curb, it’s up for grabs.” Ordinarily, this only extends to inanimate objects.
Earlier this week, however, NYC Free at the Curb shared a picture of a sad-looking Pit Bull mix on the subway steps.
“Emergency! Needs a rescue! Someone just tied this dog to a pole at a subway stop!!! Fulton Street subway station where the 4/5 runs! In FiDi! Someone left a scared dog tied up,” the post said.
That night, Heather Hamm was scrolling online. She was in search of a dog to adopt.
“I was actually just looking previously at foster dogs. And then I (opened) up Instagram and I saw her, “ Hamm said. “She was the first post.”
A serendipitous moment leads to dog adoption
Hamm could not resist the serendipitous opportunity. Quickly, she made her way to the Fulton Street stop. On arrival, she saw police officers standing with the disheartened dog.
“(The police) were like, ‘She’s your dog now, she obviously likes you,'” Hamm told ABC 7.
The identity of the previous owner remains a mystery. Although security cameras monitor the subway stop, there are none in the stairwell where the dog was abandoned.
Later, Hamm took the pup to a vet who was unable to locate a microchip. The veterinarian estimated the dog’s age to be between 6 and 9 months old.
“I found so much on this page, (but) this is my craziest stoop find yet,” Heather Hamm said.
The happy pup’s new name is Peaches.
