When truck driver Mario Rodriguez saw a photo of Hickory, a two-year-old pit bull on the euthanasia list at a New York shelter, he knew he had to act fast. There was just one problem—he was working in California, nearly 3,000 miles away.
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But Mario wasn’t about to let distance stop him. Growing up with pit bulls, he knew how loving and loyal they could be. Determined to save Hickory, he hit the road, driving nonstop while calling the shelter daily to ensure the dog was still there. “By the third day, they recognized my number,” Mario laughed. “They’d just say, ‘Yes, Mario, he’s still here.'”
When he finally arrived, Hickory greeted him with uncontrollable tail wags and endless kisses, as if he knew Mario was his savior. Back home, Hickory bonded instantly with Mario’s two other pit bulls. But when it was time for Mario to return to work, Hickory refused to let him leave alone—so now, the happy pup rides shotgun in the truck, exploring parks, farms, and even meeting cows and horses along the way.
What started as a desperate rescue mission turned into the beginning of an unbreakable bond—and one very lucky pit bull’s second chance at life.
