It’s easy to overlook an animal wandering the streets. After all, being on the clock and trying to finish your work could make it easy to not notice the small things going on around you. But, in the midst of one of his routine deliveries, Chicago driver Alex Badecker, found himself taking on a new role – animal rescuer. During one of his routine routes spotted two emaciated pitbull mixes lying in the road.
I was worried they’d get hit, so I wanted to check them for tags,” Alex said.
Little did he know, this moment of concern would lead to a life-changing event for these abandoned pups. “I’m in a situation where I’m really not supposed to have passengers and stuff like that, but I was afraid they were going to get hit by a car or something like that,” Alex said.
The two dogs that Alex found on his route. Photo by Morgan’s Mutt Rescues
Upon closer inspection, it became apparent that the dogs, later named FedEx and Iris, had been abandoned, bearing the scars of neglect and hardship. With no tags or identification, Alex faced a dilemma. “I knew I needed to finish that last delivery, but I kept thinking it would be wrong to leave them.”
So, knowing the dogs needed help, Alex decided to go above and beyond. He reached out to Debra Morgan, the founder of Morgan’s Mutts Rescue, for assistance. Debra, upon seeing the condition of the dogs, described them as “skin over bones basically. Extremely emaciated. Filthy, filthy, filthy. Dirty. Greasy.”
The rescue operation began, but sadly, FedEx couldn’t overcome the toll of neglect and malnourishment. Morgan, with a heavy heart, made the decision to humanely euthanize FedEx. “He was giving me kisses right up till the sedation kicked in. He was so sweet, and it broke my heart,” she shared.
Amidst the sorrow, a silver lining emerged. Iris, displaying remarkable resilience and a sweet demeanor, became a candidate for foster care. Alix, who was still deeply invested in the well-being of these animals, stepped up to foster Iris. “After I posted FedEx’s passing, Alex reached out to foster-to-adopt Iris,” Debra said. Iris, over the weeks in Badecker’s care, transformed from an emaciated and wounded pup to a lively, affectionate companion.
She has gained good weight and is still a happy, silly, affectionate goofball,” Debra said, smiling.
In a heartwarming twist, Alex decided to make the foster arrangement permanent, officially adopting Iris into their family. “She’s such a little ball of energy and love,” he said, laughing. This tale of compassion, from the initial rescue to the ultimate adoption, highlights the profound impact individuals can make when they extend a helping hand.
Iris goofs around in her new home. Photo by Morgan’s Mutts Rescue
“It just takes a second sometimes. Being kind to somebody else, another animal, it can change somebody’s whole day sometimes. I’ve seen that. Then an animal, like I said, they could’ve been hit by a car, so she gets another opportunity,” Alex said. “I have no idea what her backstory is. . . I just want to make the best for her now and in the future.” Watch below for a look at Iris’ amazing rescue story!
