Ferdinand's Story

We found him lying in the middle of the road in a small village in central Bali, curled up, writhing and screaming in pain as cars and motorbikes rushed past without a second thought. When we approached we saw that his neck was in a horrific state, crawling with thousands of maggots. He was starving, dehydrated, and alone. The photos speak for themselves when we say that it is clear he had been suffering like this for weeks.

We called the only taxi driver in the village and thankfully within 20 minutes they arrived and helped us to lift Ferdi into the car. He cried the entire 30 minute drive to the nearest vet. When we got there, he was sedated, put on an IV, and injected with antibiotics and painkillers. We spent over an hour removing maggots from his neck. Finally, he was given some relief from his suffering.

We named him Ferdinand, after the story of the gentle bull in a bull-fighting ring who didn't want to fight, he just wanted to lie in the grass and smell the flowers. That's exactly who this old dog is. Life on the streets is brutal, especially for unneutered dogs forced into fights over food, space, and survival. Ferdinand didn't want to fight, but he had no choice. And he lost.

Despite everything, he is so sweet. So gentle. And somehow, still holding on. He doesn't want much, just a soft place to rest, a full belly and a gentle hand. 

Today, he is safe at a vet clinic in Ubud. He is still in pain, very weak, and severely anaemic. But his wound is healing well, and his organs are strong. The vets believe he has a real chance if we can continue his care.

He has had a hard, lonely life, and we're asking for your help to change that. His medical bills are growing quickly, and we can't cover it all on our own. Every donation, no matter the size, goes directly to his treatment and care. If we raise more than he needs, it will go towards helping dogs in similar situations.

Thank you for giving him a chance to lie in the grass and smell the flowers.

About Us

Hi! We are The Rescue Route, a new animal rescue group run by Molly & Sam. Our long-term goal is to set up a sterilisation programme, beginning in Bali, to prevent cats and dogs from being born into lives of suffering and neglect. As of now, we are raising funds for the rescue animals we find along our travels in South-east Asia. We've been doing all we can within our travel budget but we've encountered more animals in need than we have the means to help. If you can support us we would be incredibly grateful, and the animals even more so.