In Pennsylvania, a 1-pound Chihuahua was abandoned in a storm drain, then pulled to safety

Neighbors in Susquehanna Township called Castaway Critters after spotting Maxine, a 1-pound Chihuahua, in a Dauphin County storm drain. The dog was so small that Jessica Walton, operations manager of Castaway Critters, said she was "the size of a kitten."

Here's what to know

After nearby residents called, Jessica Walton of Castaway Critters went to Union Deposit Road, where Maxine was lodged in a roadside drain, according to CBS 21 WHP. Castaway Critters is a nonprofit that helps abused and neglected animals, and rescuers there carefully brought the dog out.

When rescuers reached her, Maxine showed clear signs of neglect. Walton described her as "very thin, matted and dirty." She noted other details about her condition: "Overgrown fingernails, she had been missing fur. She had terrible fleas. Just really, really neglected coat. And she was just terrified. She was just terrified."

At roughly 1 pound, Walton said, Maxine weighed far less than the nearly 4 pounds a dog her age would typically weigh.

"She is the size of a kitten. She would have drowned," Walton said.

They used a slip lead to get her out of the drain.

"Had to pull her out as gently as we could," Walton said.

More background

At about a quarter of her expected weight, the Chihuahua was already in poor condition before she ended up in the storm drain.

In Walton's view, Maxine's behavior suggested she may have endured abuse in the past. Animals with those kinds of painful histories, she said, may flinch at anything around their necks or become frightened when people reach above their heads. 

For Maxine, even simple acts of care could bring back fear, making it hard to feel safe around the people trying to help her.

According to Walton, it could take up to three months for Maxine to rebuild trust and feel comfortable again.

Walton said the call from neighbors likely saved Maxine from drowning.

What's being done?

Maxine is spending two weeks in quarantine with a foster family as Castaway Critters begins her recovery. During that period, the organization is checking for possible respiratory or bacterial infections before moving ahead with broader care.

Walton said she hopes Maxine ultimately finds a forever home.

To help pay for Maxine's continued recovery, Castaway Critters has launched a fundraiser.

Fortunately, Maxine has been showing signs indicating she's beginning to feel more comfortable. "She's learning to trust. I actually went over yesterday and got to hold her."

Where can I learn more?

For more cases like Maxine's, these articles follow dogs rescued from drains, sinkholes, wells, and other dangerous situations. They include emergency extractions and other stories involving neglected or vulnerable dogs.

• In Cleveland, firefighters coaxed a dog from a flooded drain before reuniting her with her owner.

• In Florida, a missing small dog was pulled unharmed from a 40-foot sinkhole after a week.

• In Helene's hardest-hit area, a puppy gets a happy ending after bolting into the woods.

• In Maryland, firefighters rescued a 100-pound dog from a 17-foot well and reunited him with family.

• In Boca Raton, dozens of chihuahuas are finally getting the care they never had after rescue.

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