A Heartwarming Rescue: How a Simple Change in Routine Led to Saving a Life

We’ve all experienced it—deciding on a whim to change something in our routine, whether it’s altering our coffee schedule or taking a different route to work. These small decisions can sometimes lead to life-altering moments. This was exactly the case for Malissa Sergent Lewis on a summer morning in 2016 when she chose an alternate route to work that changed her life forever.

Malissa, a teacher at an elementary school in Kentucky, was running late that day. To save time, she decided to avoid the main highway and take a side road instead. Little did she know, this seemingly minor decision would lead to an extraordinary discovery.

As she drove along the quiet road, something unusual caught her eye—a trash bag on the side of the road that appeared to be moving. The sight was so strange that it prompted her to pull over and take a closer look. “Did I just see that garbage bag move?” she asked herself, unable to ignore the peculiar sight. Curiosity and concern took over, and Malissa decided to investigate further.

She cautiously approached the bag, unsure of what she might find. The bag was tightly knotted, indicating that whatever was inside had been intentionally placed there. With a mix of trepidation and determination, Malissa carefully tore open a corner of the bag. What she found inside left her stunned.

Inside the bag was a young puppy, frightened yet overjoyed to see the light of day. The moment Malissa opened the bag, the puppy began wagging its tail with pure happiness. “He was so excited to see me. When I opened the bag and he saw daylight, his tail just started wagging like crazy. I couldn’t believe someone could do something so cruel,” Malissa recounted.

The puppy, although wearing a collar, had no identification tags. Realizing the dire situation, Malissa knew she couldn’t just leave the puppy there. She brought him with her to work, unable to bear the thought of abandoning the helpless animal.

Later that day, Malissa’s son came to take the puppy home. Together, they brought him to a veterinarian for a full check-up and vaccinations. Despite their efforts to find the original owner by contacting animal control and checking for any missing dog reports, no one came forward to claim him.

The puppy’s origins remain a mystery—how he ended up in a trash bag on the side of the road is something Malissa may never know. However, one thing is clear: the puppy was fortunate to have been found by someone who cared.

Malissa and her family decided to adopt the puppy, ensuring he would receive the love and care he deserves. Reflecting on the experience, Malissa expressed her disbelief that anyone could treat an animal so heartlessly. “I can’t imagine what kind of person would do this. Putting a living creature in a garbage bag and dumping it on the side of the road is beyond cold-hearted,” she said.

This heartwarming story is a reminder of how even the smallest decisions in our daily lives can lead to unexpected and life-changing events. For Malissa, that small decision to take a different route to work not only saved a life but also brought a new, loving member into her family.