Two Pit Bulls were found trembling and trapped in Louisiana’s 17th Street Canal—a place notorious not for rescues, but for abandonment. With steep, unforgiving walls and no way out, it’s a spot where animals are often dumped with no chance of escape.
Down in the canal were Norman and Francis, huddled together, soaked and shaking. Alone, afraid, and with storm clouds looming overhead, they waited—hoping someone would care.
That someone came.
Michelle and another rescuer from Zeus’ Rescues rushed to the scene. “The canal… it’s such a common place for people to dump animals,” Michelle explained. “There’s no way in and no way out.”
Fearful Barks and a Turning Point
“When we first arrived, their barks were filled with fear,” Michelle told The Dodo. Norman and Francis were clearly panicked, unsure if they could trust the humans standing above them. The rescuers knelt down, spoke gently, and offered treats, doing everything they could to ease the dogs’ nerves.
“Once we got over the canal with them, I noticed their barks turned a little bit higher,” Michelle said. “Which usually means, ‘Hey, you’re not as scary as I thought you were.’”
Francis was the first to step forward. Drawn by kindness, she inched her way across and allowed herself to be lifted to safety. That moment changed everything.
Watching his closest companion being carried away, Norman wasn’t about to be left behind. “Being the little baby that he is,” the rescuer smiled, “he said, ‘Don’t leave me here!’” He leapt across the widest part of the canal and landed straight into waiting arms.
With both dogs finally safe, the rescuers breathed a massive sigh of relief. They placed the pups in their van and drove them straight to their shelter in New Orleans.
From Survival to Sunbeams
Back at the Zeus’ Rescues facility, Norman and Francis began to relax. Their days of barking in fear were behind them. In their place? Sunshine naps, belly rubs, and wagging tails.
“They love to be in the sunshine and will just lay out like a cat in the sun… They’re perfect angels,” Michelle said.
Despite everything they had been through, both dogs revealed sweet, gentle natures. They didn’t hold onto fear or bitterness. All they wanted was to give and receive love.
A New Beginning
Despite their clear bond, rescuers didn’t consider them a bonded pair, which meant they could be adopted separately. Norman was the first to find his forever home, where he now lives with a loving family.
Francis is still waiting—but not in fear. She’s safe, surrounded by people who see her for the gentle soul she is. Her happy ending is just around the corner.
Thanks to a life-saving call and the quick response from Zeus’ Rescues, two dogs were pulled from despair and given the chance to thrive. Norman’s new life has already begun. And Francis? Hers is only a heartbeat away.