Top 10 Animal Rescues of 2022

As 2022 comes to an end, we decided to compile a few of the best animal rescue stories that have inspired us and warmed our hearts this year. From giving farm animals a second chance at life to saving endangered species, there have been plenty of lucky animals that have been saved from homelessness, unsafe weather conditions, slaughterhouses, and the illegal pet trade. We are happy to say that all of these creatures got their happy ending thanks to animal sanctuaries and rescue organizations, and kind people from all over the world.

1. Horse Rescued From Icy Lake in Wisconsin

Source: WCCO – CBS Minnesota/YouTube

A horse who escaped his stable was found in an icy Wisconsin lake and was thankfully saved by a group of good Samaritans. Residents and neighbors told ABC News that they were relieved that they were able to save the horse who is named Jack after Leonardo Dicaprio’s “Titanic” character. Jack was able to get up and stand up after spending three hours in the icy waters in Wood Lake, Wisconsin. Despite the subzero temperatures, residents and rescuers never gave up trying to get Jack to safety.

Finally, rescuers were able to get a nylon strap under the horse and guide him out of the ice and to safety. They took the horse to a trailer with a climate-controlled stable and got him warmed back up again. Representatives from Frontier Stables told ABC News that he was doing well and recuperating, and they were able to reunite Jack with his family.

2. Man Wades and Breaks Through Frozen Lake to Rescue Trapped Dog

@mother.of.parrots4

On thanksgiving my boyfriend saved a dog that fell through ice🤍 #rescue #fyp #ice #dog @austin.mccarthy

♬ original sound – Keirsten Slagle

This truly amazing TikTok video went viral of a man on Thanksgiving breaking through ice to save a dog that had fallen through. The man wades through the frozen lake as he breaks the ice with his fists until he reaches the terrified dog. He finally reaches the dog and grabs him before quickly turning around to go back to shore as quickly as possible.

In the comments, Slagle said that “his whole body was cut up” from the ice. The video posted by @mother.of.parrots3, the man’s girlfriend, has already racked up over five million views. What a hero! This is truly amazing, and we are so glad that the man was able to go and reach the dog and save him!

3. Two Lion Cubs Rescued From a Living Room Where They Were Kept as Pets

Source: The Dodo/YouTube

Mona and Max were two lion cubs that were bought from a zoo. The man who bought the lion cubs brought them home and had them live in his home with his family. It was a very dangerous situation for everyone involved. When Four Paws International heard about the cubs from concerned citizens, they went to go check out the situation. They found the two cubs living in the home in a small cage and were malnourished and underweight.

Although the process of getting the lions across borders during a time of conflict between the countries, they were finally able to get them to Jordan, where they could get the care and life they needed and deserved. Now Max and Mona are full-size lions but still love playing and are always together.

4. Six Rescued Baby Opossums Learn Skills to be Released Back Into the Wild

Source: The Dodo/YouTube

These 6 newborn opossums lost their mother, and luckily, MoonShine Wildlife Rehab stepped in to help take care of them and get them ready to enter the wild again. The opossums started to grow hair, and their personalities began to shine through. When they got bigger, they started to like exploring. The rehabilitators got them used to different elements and smell to get them ready to enter the wild. Finally, the opossums were strong enough to enter the wild again and had learned all of the skills they needed to survive.

5. Woman Rescues Special Needs Crow From Streets of Moscow

Source: GeoBeats Animals/YouTube

A woman named Varvara Underwood rescued a special needs crow off the streets of Moscow, and now the hilarious bird acts just like a dog. Underwood first saw the crow, now named Benedict, in the streets of Moscow and thought something might be wrong with him. He was only a couple of weeks old, and Underwood watched him for four days on the central Moscow streets and saw that he never moved from one spot. That’s when she decided to take him home and call the vet. She found out that his heart was very weak and he could not fly. Benedict stayed with Underwood because she and the vet knew that he could not survive outside. He lived on the open balcony, and she had to feed him every hour. Soon, Benedict became part of the family and loved to study his new human.

6. Two Dogs Rescued From War in Ukraine and Given Wheelchairs Are Finally Ready for Forever Home

Source: Walkin’ Pets/YouTube

Two brave dogs named Johnny and Phoenix were rescued from the war in Ukraine and are now ready for adoption after receiving wheelchairs. Breaking the Chains Animal Rescue (BTC) found the dogs during the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. The dogs were injured and Walkin’ Pets, a pet mobility company, reported that they found Johnny, who had been shot by the Russian military and left stranded with his back legs paralyzed. Thanks to rescuers, both dogs survived, and they were taken in by BTC. When the dogs arrived, BTC knew they needed to reach out to Walkin’ Pets to start getting wheelchairs ready for the pair. Walkin’ Pets donated a wheelchair to each dog to help them learn how to walk again!

7. Deaf Dog Was Rescued After a 100-Foot Fall Into a Ravine

Source: CBS 8 San Diego/YouTube

An 8-year-old Australian shepherd named Hobo accidentally fell into a steep ravine near his owner’s property in Sorrento Valley. He fell about 100 feet down the hill and got stuck in the deep brush. The Emergency Response Team (ERT) came to the rescue to save this deaf dog and return him to his family. The Unit swiftly arrived for backup and had the idea of setting up safety lines down the ravine.

“Five team members were required to cut the dog free from the brush with a saw before securing him for the climb up. The rescue took four hours, and we are all so relieved that Hobo is back safe with his family,” said San Diego Humane Society.

8. Coyote Rescued After Wandering into Middle School and Released Back into the Wild

Source: RivCOanimalsPIO/YouTube

A Coyote was rescued and released after wandering into a bathroom stall in a California middle school. An Animal Services Officer with Riverside County safely removed the young male from the school and released him back into the wild. The rescue footage shows Officer Luna finding the coyote in a stall, looking frightened. The officer captured the coyote and brought him back to the wild again. No animals or humans were harmed during the coyote’s visit to the school, according to the RCDAS.

9. Couple Takes Vacation to Italy and Rescues Three Kittens

@tatyana.jade

tiktok do your thing pleaseeeee 😭🙏🏼🐱 if anyone is flying from ROME to MONTREAL this Friday, please get in touch with me!!! #animalrescue #animalrescuestory #catrescue #kittensoftiktok #kittenrescuestory #animalsoftiktok #animalshelter #rescuecat #rescueanimal #rescueanimalsofinstagram #catsoftiktok #catlovers #animalsurvival #kittenrescue #kittentok #montrealtiktok #aircanadatoronto

♬ Slowed Jacob and the Stone – 🌃

When @tatyana.jade and her partner took a vacation to Italy, they could have never imagined the sweetest kitten that they would meet on their adventure. The couple found the kitten on the side of the road. He was barely moving, and his eyes were closed shut because of an infection. They saved him from the side of the road and took him to their Airbnb. They cleaned his eyes and started to give him food so that he could regain some strength. They named him Rambo because “he’s a fighter,” the TikTok text read.

10. Rescue Saves Over 50 Dogs Stuck Outside in Cages in the Arizona Heat

@ellirescues

They had over 150 dogs living in the desert💔#skysanctuary #adopt #adoptdontshop #adoptme #animalrescue #rescuedogs #dogs #rescue #rescuedog #puppy

♬ Home – Edith Whiskers

When a family reached out to Sky Sanctuary Rescue because they had over 150 animals, the rescuers knew that they needed to go help these animals. The family was desperate for help, and they went with a plan to help at least 10 of the dogs. The poor babies were desperate to get out of the hot Arizona heat. The team was able to leave with 56 of the dogs and brought them back to the sanctuary. There, they helped get the dogs groomed, washed, and gave them food and water. The dogs were happier than they ever had been.

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