Woman spotted abandoned dog at an Arkansas gas station, then celebrated when she failed to rehome him

For a week, a starving dog named Buddy wandered near a gas station in rural Arkansas, running between passing trucks and approaching strangers for food after his owners abandoned him. However, luckily, it was then that Kelli Quan (@crazyquany) was passing through the same route and spotted him. Upon inquiring about him from an attendant, she found out Buddy's story and decided to take a step that changed the dog's future forever. She posted the whole story on Instagram on January 19, 2026, which has garnered over 148,000 views and 32,000 likes since.

Buddy endured a lot during the seven days

Being abandoned by his previous owners took a toll on Buddy, as he didn't get much food and was in a terrible condition after the first seven days alone. "His rib cage and every other bone on his body were visible," Quan wrote in the caption of her Instagram post. The situation was so bad that even the attendant was worried that if this went on for any longer, Buddy could get hit by a car or a truck. As soon as Quan heard this, she made up her mind and decided she was not leaving the place without Buddy. However, it wasn't going to be easy.

He developed trust issues

After being alone for these many days and enduring so much pain, Buddy was scared. Yet he somehow understood that Quan was trying to help him, and after a tussle, he gave in. She then lifted Buddy and put him inside her car. The pickup was followed by a 14-hour road trip and another 14-hour ride back to Phoenix. Although Buddy slept through most of this ride, once he got there, he was in his new home with his new friends. "I tried to rehome Buddy with the perfect family but in the end we just couldn’t do it," Quan confessed.

Soon, he got his hair trimmed, mats cut out, and had a relaxing bath. This was followed by a massive shopping haul where he got to select a few new toys. Weeks went by, and Buddy finally started to feel at home, eating well and living his best life. Additionally, he also befriended the other dogs Quan had rescued. 

Dog abandonment crisis across the U.S.

While Buddy's story did have a happy ending, dog abandonment has been on the rise in recent times. In fact, the situation is getting worse each passing year. According to a Shelter Animals Count survey cited by Time, animal shelters across the country are overflowing with more and more owners returning their pets. As a matter of fact, the number of stray dogs taken in by shelters has risen by a staggering 6% compared to 2022 and a whopping 22% from 2021. What's more concerning is that even though the inflow has risen, the adoption rates haven't. 

That said, this has prompted several owners to take drastic measures. “Shelters are quite literally at crisis, and some of them are making the decision to close their doors or reduce hours of operation or reduce the kind of animals that they bring in,” said Stephanie Filer, the organization’s executive director. This explains why dogs like Buddy are ending up on the streets. Nonetheless, with people like Quan, not all hope is lost just yet.

People praised Quan for taking in the furry animal and saving his life. A woman @aims1_3 wrote, "Bless you for taking him... I don't understand how anyone could dump him or see him and leave him... you are a beautiful soul for doing this, and Buddy is gorgeous... he truly belongs in your pack." Meanwhile, @marksylvafineart commented, "You have found yourself a Llewellin Setter. I’m on my 5th one and have nothing but them since I was 18 years old. Currently, Sophie and her niece are. They’re such sweet and loving dogs. You’re truly a lucky person."

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