We’ve all experienced those moments when a small change in our daily routine leads to something unexpected. Maybe you grab your coffee at a different café, or you leave work a bit earlier than usual. Sometimes, these minor adjustments can have a huge impact—like running into an old friend or uncovering a hidden truth.
For Malissa Sergent Lewis, a simple decision to take an alternate route to work one summer morning in 2016 turned into an unforgettable experience.
An Unusual Morning Commute
That day, Malissa was running late for her job at a Kentucky elementary school. Hoping to save time, she decided to skip the main highway and take a back road instead—a choice she would soon be grateful for.
As she drove, something odd caught her eye: a black trash bag lying in the middle of the road. But this wasn’t just any bag—it seemed to be moving.
“I thought I saw the bag shift as I drove by. When I looked closer, I realized it was definitely moving,” Malissa recounted to The Dodo.
A Startling Find
Curiosity got the better of her. Malissa pulled over, cautiously approached the bag, and noticed it was tightly tied shut. Whatever was inside hadn’t ended up there by accident.
Carefully, she tore open a corner of the bag to peek inside—and was stunned by what she found.
Inside was a small puppy, wagging its tail and clearly overjoyed to see her. “He was so happy when he saw the light and started wagging his tail right away. I couldn’t believe it,” Malissa told The Dodo.
The puppy, though wearing a collar, had no identification tags. Malissa couldn’t leave him behind, so she brought him with her to work.
Giving the Puppy a New Start
Later, Malissa’s son took the puppy home, and together they brought him to the vet for a checkup and vaccinations. How the puppy ended up tied in a trash bag on the road remains a mystery.
Concerned that the dog might have been abandoned or stolen, Malissa contacted animal control. However, no one came forward to claim him, and he wasn’t listed as missing.
Fortunately, Malissa and her family decided to adopt the puppy, ensuring he would have a loving home. Still, she was deeply troubled by the cruelty of whoever left him there.
“I can’t imagine who would do something so heartless. No animal deserves to be treated that way,” Malissa said.
A Twist of Fate
Life works in mysterious ways. If Malissa hadn’t changed her route that morning, the puppy’s fate might have been very different. Her quick thinking and compassion gave him a second chance at life.
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