A forgotten bulldog's heartbreaking story takes a beautiful turn, thanks to one man in a cape.
In a world where too many animals are discarded and forgotten, one man in Mexico is turning heartbreak into hope — one rescue at a time.
Meet Duke, known online as @zadrigman. He’s not your typical dog rescuer. When an emergency call comes in, Duke doesn’t just grab a leash — he puts on his superhero costume.
“I wear a superhero outfit,” Duke explained in a video for The Dodo. “Because I want to inspire younger generations to help animals in need.”
One day last year, Duke received a tip that would change a life forever. Someone had spotted a bulldog abandoned in a dumpster. Without hesitation, Duke donned his bright blue-and-green costume and rushed to the scene.
There, poking out from beneath the garbage, was a tiny black nose.
With shaking hands and a heavy heart, Duke dug through the trash until he found her — a fragile bulldog, barely hanging on. Her eyes met his, and it was as if she was silently asking, “Why?”
“I felt so disappointed,” Duke recalled. “I couldn’t believe it.”
He soon learned the truth: the bulldog had belonged to a backyard breeder. Once she could no longer have puppies, she was thrown away like garbage.
Too weak to stand, the dog lay motionless. Duke gently lifted her into his arms and whispered:
“You don’t belong in the trash. You don’t.”
At the vet clinic, her healing began. Though frail, she mustered the strength to give Duke a gentle kiss — a small gesture that said more than words ever could.
“Despite everything she’s been through,” Duke said, “she’s so grateful.”
After receiving medical care, the bulldog was taken to a local animal wellbeing center. There, surrounded by kindness and care, she began to walk again — and live again. Today, she’s surrounded by new friends, sunshine, and second chances.
And Duke?
He’s still out there, cape on, answering the next call.
“I am happy,” he said. “After all, she had a happy ending.”
💛 You don’t need a cape to be a hero.
Support your local shelters. Speak up for the voiceless.
And remember: every rescue begins with one person who cares.
