Raymond thought he was heading out on a fun hike when his family brought him to a quiet Michigan trail earlier this month. But what should have been a day of bonding turned into heartbreak. His family walked away—and never looked back.
Left alone in an unfamiliar place, Raymond did what many dogs would: he waited. Not for an hour, or an afternoon—but for five agonizing days. He sat faithfully atop a pile of wood chips near the parking lot, eyes locked on every car that passed, hoping it might be his people coming back for him.
“Day after day, for five long days, he sat on a pile of wood chips overlooking the parking lot,” The KG Foundation shared on TikTok. “Waiting for his ‘family’ to come back.”
A Watchful Eye and a Plea for Help
Hikers began to notice the lonely dog and grew concerned. A few tried to help, but Raymond wouldn’t let anyone close. Each time someone approached, he’d vanish into the woods—only to return to his waiting spot once the coast was clear.
One determined woman, realizing she couldn’t rescue him alone, reached out to The KG Foundation. Jordan Covington, the organization’s founder, arrived at the scene ready for what she assumed would be a difficult, drawn-out rescue mission.
But when she knelt down and gently offered food, Raymond did something no one expected—he walked right up to her.
“He was starving and defeated,” Covington said. “It was like he’d finally given up.”
From Shelter to Sickness—and Strength
Raymond was first brought to animal control to confirm that no one was searching for him. When no one came forward, Covington transferred him to A ReJoyceful Animal Rescue, supported by her foundation.
There, something shifted. As Raymond passed another dog at the shelter, his tail gave a tentative wag. It was the first glimpse of joy he’d shown since his rescue.
“It was the first time I saw his little butt wiggle,” Covington told The Dodo. “I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, thank God,’ because he was really just a shell of a dog.”
But Raymond’s journey wasn’t over. Soon after arriving, he came down with pneumonia and had to be hospitalized. He was placed on oxygen and kept under close watch. Thanks to the quick action of his rescue team, Raymond began to recover and slowly regained his strength.
Ready for a New Beginning
After enduring the heartbreak of abandonment and the pain of illness, Raymond is finally beginning to rediscover joy—and himself.
He no longer hides or cowers. This once-frightened soul now approaches people with cautious optimism, his tail wagging more with each passing day. His first toy, his first smile, his first nuzzle against a gentle hand—all are signs that Raymond is healing, inside and out.
“He’s been super brave with meeting new people,” Covington said. “He’s really friendly and wagging his tail a lot.”
Raymond’s caregivers say watching his transformation has been emotional and inspiring. While he still has a gentle, reserved nature, his confidence is blooming. He’s available for foster now, and once he’s fully healed, he’ll be ready to meet the family who truly deserves him.
“I think that he’s going to be just a very sensitive soul and a very sweet guy,” Covington said. “Whoever ends up with him will be incredibly lucky.”
Raymond may have been left behind once—but this time, he’ll find a home where he’ll never have to wait alone again.
