PAWS New England

Not long ago, a wounded, terrified dog crawled into the shadows under a stranger’s home in Mississippi. His name was Billy — though he didn’t know it yet. Bleeding and alone, he had just survived a gunshot. Limping and in pain, he disappeared into a filthy crawlspace, trying to vanish from a world that had only brought him fear.

Billy had no reason to trust people. So when rescuers first spotted him under the house, he bolted. Again and again. No matter how gently they approached, Billy ran — haunted by trauma, too broken to believe help was real.

PAWS New England

But one woman refused to give up.

Say Smith, an experienced dog rescuer, made it her mission to save Billy. With help from friends, she tracked the elusive dog for two exhausting days. After hours of false starts, sweat, and near-captures, they finally secured him in a humane trap.

“I’m about to cry tears of joy!” Smith wrote on Facebook after the rescue. “He put me through 10 hours of hell, but he’s safe now!”

PAWS New England

Billy’s medical needs were urgent. Smith reached out to PAWS New England, who stepped in immediately to provide support. He was rushed to Baldwyn Veterinary Hospital, where a team of vets uncovered the harsh truth: Billy had a broken leg, anemia, and bullet fragments lodged in both front legs and along his side.

A long road lay ahead.

But Billy wouldn’t walk it alone.

Healing Begins with Trust

Billy was placed in the care of Denise Belt, a dedicated medical foster with PAWS New England. At first, he was invisible — not physically, but emotionally. He wouldn’t meet Denise’s eyes. He avoided touch. He tried to disappear into corners.

“For the first few days, he made no eye contact and tried very, very hard to be invisible,” Denise shared online.

But love, patience, and gentle kindness began to work their quiet magic.

Denise sat near him. She spoke softly. She left food nearby and never rushed him. Over time, Billy began to inch closer. A tail wag here. A curious glance there. One day, he followed her into the kitchen — not because he had to, but because he wanted to be near her.

That was the moment his healing truly began.

A Brighter Future Ahead

Billy still carries scars, both inside and out. His body is healing, but it’s his heart that needs the most time. Yet every day brings small miracles: a trusting glance, a peaceful nap near his foster mom, a little more light in his eyes.

“His deepest wounds are emotional, and they will take some time,” Denise said. “He is learning that there is kindness in touch, and love in gentle pets. Every day I see a little more hope in his eyes, and a little less fear that he will be hurt again.”

Billy’s journey isn’t over, but for the first time in a long time — maybe ever — it’s leading somewhere beautiful. When he’s ready, Billy will be adopted into a forever home where safety and love aren’t temporary, but permanent.

From a dirty crawlspace to the warmth of a home, from bullets to belly rubs — Billy’s story is a reminder: even the most broken hearts can be mended with compassion and time.