In a heartwarming tale of canine bravery and compassion, an adopted dog named Carlton stepped up to save the life of another furry friend in Georgia. Carlton, a pit bull mix, selflessly donated blood to a dog named Breeze, enabling the latter to undergo critical surgery that was urgently needed.

This act of heroism has earned Carlton immense praise from the local community, yet he is still in search of a loving forever home. For those interested in adopting this courageous pup, Carlton is currently available for adoption at Renegade Paws Rescue in Savannah, Georgia.

The selfless act of Carlton came about when Breeze, who had been previously adopted from Renegade’s sister shelter, One Love, required an immediate blood transfusion for intensive exploratory surgery. Breeze was experiencing internal bleeding, and time was of the essence. Renegade’s director and co-founder, Jennifer Taylor, recognized the urgency of the situation and promptly identified Carlton as the perfect donor for Breeze.

Taylor expressed confidence in Carlton’s ability to help, stating, “We knew that he’d be a good boy. Some dogs aren’t going to sit still while they draw a big syringe of blood. He’s just a really sweet puppy.” The decision to select Carlton as the blood donor was also based on health considerations, such as meeting weight requirements and testing negative for heartworm.

Thanks to Carlton’s generous blood donation, Breeze’s surgery became possible, as it helped raise the dog’s red blood cell count. The veterinarians were then able to successfully locate the source of Breeze’s internal bleeding, a breakthrough made possible by Carlton’s contribution. Breeze’s owner expressed profound gratitude on social media, acknowledging Renegade Paws Rescue and hero dog Carlton for their life-saving gift of blood.

Both Carlton and Breeze made remarkable recoveries after their respective procedures. Carlton has resumed his playful and energetic self, having quickly bounced back from the donation process. Taylor shared, “He was a little groggy that first day, but he’s actually really good now. He’s in good spirits; he’s playing fetch in the yards and having playgroups with his friends.”

Following his heroic act, Carlton enjoyed a rejuvenating weekend sleepover at his brother Anchor’s adoptive home. This break provided him some respite from the shelter environment as he continued his recovery.

Carlton and his brother were rescued in December 2022 by a compassionate individual who discovered them near one of the shelter’s buildings. Both pups were severely underweight at the time, with Anchor also suffering from a significant wound. Thankfully, they were placed in foster homes shortly after their rescue.

Despite Carlton’s gentle nature and his amiable interactions with other dogs and people, he is still searching for his forever home. Taylor attributes this to the challenges faced by black pit bulls when it comes to adoption. She laments, “It’s very hard to get them adopted here. People are afraid of them, and there are a lot of stereotypes that go on where the pit bull breed is concerned.”

Taylor concludes by expressing her own desire to provide Carlton a loving home if circumstances permitted, saying, “If I didn’t have as many dogs as I have, I’d take him home.” With his selfless act of donating blood and his endearing personality, Carlton is an extraordinary dog in need of a special home where he can finally find the love and care he deserves.