It was just another early morning at Austin Pets Alive! when a staff member noticed a cardboard box sitting silently outside the rescue’s Parvo ICU. Curious, she walked over, opened the flaps—and found a tiny French bulldog inside, staring up with wide, confused eyes.
There was no collar, no ID. Just a handwritten note:
“Found Dog S. 1st & Congress. No owner has reached out.”
The little dog didn’t move. She didn’t bark. She simply lay there, helpless. Staff would later name her McNugget, but in that moment, all they knew was that she needed help—and fast.
Paralyzed, Powerless — and Still Hopeful
Once inside, the medical team quickly noticed something was wrong. McNugget couldn’t move her hind legs. Tests revealed a collapsed disc and a painful condition called spondylosis, a spinal degeneration that left her completely paralyzed from the waist down.
It was likely she had been unable to even crawl out of the box on her own.
“We imagine the person who brought her to us did so anonymously because APA! is not open intake,” said Luis Sanchez, public relations and communications officer for APA! told The Dodo. “But they knew that the rescue would ensure her safety, no matter what challenges lay ahead.”
Despite everything she had endured, McNugget showed no aggression — only confusion, resilience, and the faintest flicker of trust in her eyes.
A Foster Home Brings a Ray of Light
McNugget was placed into foster care with a trained medical foster, where she finally got the support she needed. With every day, she grew stronger — physically and emotionally.
Her spirit, once dulled by pain and abandonment, began to shine through.
She adapted quickly, scooting around the house with determination and curiosity. It was clear she wanted to live. And soon, someone special would walk into her life and offer her exactly that.
A New Name, A New Chapter
When Bailey Guptill came to meet McNugget, something clicked immediately.
“When I got to meet her, she instantly lit up and scooted towards me as fast as she could,” Guptill said. “Once she was in my arms, I was in love.”
Guptill adopted her that day, gave her the name Shrimpina, and never looked back.
Now, Shrimpina is learning to walk again, growing more mobile and joyful with each passing week. But more importantly, she’s found where she belongs — in a home filled with love and patience.
“Shrimpina is a ball of energy,” Guptill said. “As soon as she wakes up, she’s all snuggles and licks. She loves spending time cuddling on the couch, but also loves playing with squeaky toys. The best part has been getting to have her sit in my lap while I work from home. She’s the best lap dog ever!”
A Second Chance That Changed Everything
From being left in a cardboard box, paralyzed and forgotten, to racing — in her own wobbly way — into the arms of someone who would love her unconditionally, Shrimpina’s journey is nothing short of extraordinary.
Her little legs may not work the way they used to, but her spirit never faltered. Every inch she scooted, every tail wag, every hopeful glance — it all spoke louder than words: she was ready to live again.
Today, Shrimpina is more than just a rescue story. She’s a living reminder that resilience comes in the smallest packages. That healing isn’t just about recovery — it’s found in quiet moments of trust, in snuggles on the couch, in the joy of squeaky toys, and in the gentle hands of someone who finally sees you as worthy.
She may have been abandoned once. But now, she’s not just safe — she’s cherished. And in her forever home, Shrimpina is finally living the life every dog deserves: one filled with comfort, joy, and unconditional love.
