In the chaos of a busy train station in Lima, Peru, a small dog sat helplessly tied to a wheeled machine.
People rushed by without noticing him. His body was stiff, head hung low, and the straps wrapped around him were so tight they left him unable to move.
Rescuers later named him Cabezón, which translates to “Bobblehead,” because of the way his head drooped from exhaustion and injury.
His story came to light thanks to a few children who noticed the struggling dog, fed him, and eventually helped him break free from the machine.
But by then, the damage was done.
Sara Moran, founder of Milagros Perrunos, a shelter for disabled dogs, believes Cabezón may have been abandoned after injuring his hind legs.
Stray animals are a common sight in Peru, and dogs with disabilities often face the harshest outcomes.
Once in Sara’s care, it was clear Cabezón needed urgent help.
A veterinary examination revealed the full extent of his suffering: severe spinal trauma, kidney failure, numerous open sores, and serious injury from being tied down and forced to relieve himself in place.
The physical damage was extensive, and the prognosis wasn’t good. Even if he survived, he would never walk again.
In many places, this would be the end of the road. But not for Cabezón.
Sara’s shelter is known for giving paralyzed and critically injured dogs a place to heal.
With soft beds and round-the-clock care, she provides comfort and dignity to animals others might give up on.
While Cabezón’s future remains uncertain, he now has something he didn’t have before: safety, compassion, and people who see him as more than his injuries.
