Christmas Eve is usually a time filled with quiet anticipation. Streets wake slowly, homes prepare for warmth, and people look forward to gathering together. But in the Baden neighborhood of St. Louis, that morning carried a much heavier feeling.
Something was wrong.
In the cold air, a young dog named Wallace stood alone, shaking, covered in blood that should have never been there. He wasn’t making noise. He wasn’t causing trouble. He wasn’t asking for attention.
He was simply trying to survive.
A Call That Revealed a Different Kind of Emergency
Police were called around 8 a.m. for what was reported as a dog bite. When Officer Landon Jordan arrived, he expected a routine situation. What he found instead stopped him in his tracks.
There was blood on the ground.
There was fear hanging in the air.
And there was Wallace.
The puppy stood frozen, his body trembling as if the world itself had become too loud. His fur was stained red. His posture was low, defeated, like someone who had already accepted that pain was all that remained.
Officer Jordan didn’t yet know what had happened. But one thing was clear immediately — this dog had been badly hurt.
A Puppy Who Was Afraid of Hands but Still Stayed
Officer Jordan tried to approach Wallace slowly. He spoke softly, the way you would speak to a frightened child. He wanted Wallace to come closer, to know he wasn’t in danger anymore.
But Wallace flinched at every movement.
Hands scared him.
Footsteps scared him.
Even kindness scared him.
And yet, Wallace didn’t run away.
He stayed.
It was as if he was pleading without words. As if every part of him was saying, “Please don’t leave me here.”
That quiet decision — to stay — likely saved his life.
The Truth Revealed at the Rescue
Wallace was quickly taken to Stray Rescue of St. Louis. As soon as the medical team examined him, the truth became impossible to ignore.
Wallace had been shot.
A bullet had entered near his eye, torn through the roof of his mouth, and exited beneath his chin. Another bullet had ripped through his back leg. The injuries were severe, deliberate, and devastating.
It is difficult to imagine that level of cruelty at any time of year. On Christmas Eve, it feels even harder to accept.
Dr. Edie Oliver, the veterinarian who examined Wallace, looked at his wounds with deep concern. She said he was lucky to be alive.
But standing there, looking at his injuries, it didn’t feel like luck.
It felt like a miracle.
A Body Broken, but a Spirit Still Gentle
Wallace could have lost his jaw. He could have lost critical bones in his mouth. He could have lost his life.
But he didn’t.
Despite the pain, despite the trauma, Wallace still had soft, gentle eyes. Even while shaking, he tried to trust the people around him. Even while bleeding, he leaned toward comfort instead of away from it.
His suffering was real. His injuries were serious.
But his spirit was still shining.
The medical team prepared him for surgery to repair his mouth. They handled him with care, not as a case or a statistic, but as a life that mattered.
They didn’t see “just a stray.”
They saw Wallace.
Healing Takes Time, But Trust Returned Quickly
As days passed, Wallace began to change.
The pain was still there. Recovery was not easy. But something beautiful began to happen.
His tail started to wag again.
He began lifting his head when people entered the room. He leaned into gentle voices. He accepted soft hands. Slowly, carefully, trust returned.
Dr. Oliver later shared that Wallace remained sweet throughout it all. That kind of goodness is heartbreaking, because no animal deserves to endure such pain — especially one who still chooses love.
Gunshot injuries are always serious. Even small wounds can hide deep damage. Wallace’s injuries ran deep, and his mouth would take time to heal.
But his heart had already begun reaching outward again, searching for safety.
Officers Who Refused to Look Away
Two officers, Jessica Ottengheime and Brett Stevens, were brought in to help follow leads in Wallace’s case. Both care deeply about animal abuse investigations.
When they saw Wallace, the images stayed with them.
Officer Stevens remembered the blood on Wallace’s face. He remembered a thin line that looked like a teardrop. He remembered Wallace’s swollen lip and the way he cowered when approached.
But more than anything, he remembered Wallace’s eyes.
Eyes that said, “I’m scared, but I need you.”
Wallace was not aggressive. He was not threatening anyone. He was simply existing — and someone decided that was reason enough to hurt him.
The officers recovered shell casings near where Wallace was found and began following leads. They made it clear this would not be ignored.
Officer Ottengheime explained that animal abuse cases matter deeply to them. They push for accountability because animals cannot speak for themselves.
So people must speak for them.
A Stray With a Past No One Knows
No microchip was found on Wallace. No owner came forward. No one knew where he truly came from.
But Wallace was friendly. Social. Eager to be close to people.
That raised questions.
Had he once had a home?
Had someone once called him a good boy?
Had he once slept near warm feet, believing he was safe?
Something changed somewhere along the way. And that change left Wallace alone outside, where Christmas Eve became the day his life shattered.
Recovery, Hope, and What Comes Next
Today, Wallace is safe.
He is warm.
He is cared for.
He is surrounded by patience and love.
He still needs more medical attention. His mouth needs time to heal properly. In about a week, he will be sedated again so doctors can ensure everything is closing the way it should.
After that, he will be neutered.
And then — if all continues to go well — Wallace will be ready for adoption.
Think about that.
After being shot. After enduring unimaginable pain. After being left alone and bleeding in the cold — Wallace may still get a real home.
A soft bed.
A full bowl.
A gentle voice saying his name.
A family who will never let him be hurt again.
Why Wallace’s Story Matters
The rescue continues to ask for support to help with Wallace’s ongoing care. Healing like his takes time, resources, and commitment.
They also ask for justice. Anyone with information is encouraged to come forward, because Wallace deserves accountability for what was done to him.
But above all else, Wallace deserves love.
And through everything he has endured, this sweet soul has already proven something powerful.
He knows how to give it.
