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A Bogalusa resident went out for a stroll with her service dog on Thursday evening, when she heard a faint whimper between Avenue E and Avenue F.

The owner’s service dog followed the sound to a cardboard box. Inside they found a tiny puppy curled up, shivering, and struggling to stay warm and alive. The Bogalusa resident took the puppy home and tried to keep him warm and comfortable. In the morning, the resident contacted Bogalusa Animal Control, and Officer Tiffany Turner Smith picked up the puppy and placed him in a foster home.

Smith found that the puppy was malnourished, dehydrated, parasitic, and had what appeared to be ant bites on his stomach. Realizing that the puppy needed medical attention, Smith reached out to the Humane Society of Louisiana (HSLA), which agreed to pay his veterinary care.

Calling it a Christmas miracle, the Humane Society said that it was fortunate that “Baby Yoda” was found when he was. If he were discovered any later, he likely would have died from exposure or from his many medical issues.

“The person who left Baby Yoda in the cardboard box is truly a Grinch and violated the state cruelty laws,” said Jeff Dorson, HSLA Director. “If this person couldn’t care for Baby Yoda, all he or she had to do was post the need to re-home him on social media or call any of the local rescue groups. Instead, this heartless individual discarded poor Yoda like an empty Coke can and prolonged his suffering and agony. However, the holiday spirit proved no match for people’s cruel nature, and good triumphed evil in time for Christmas.”

Baby Yoda’s rescue story has become a social media favorite and his post has been viewed and shared numerous times on the HSLA Facebook page.

The Humane Society is also seeking donations to pay for Yoda’s care and other animals that need help over the holidays. Donations can be made online at www.humanela.org or through the group’s PayPal account at humanela@gmail.com. Checks and money orders made out to the Humane Society of Louisiana can also be mailed to P.O. Box 740321, New Orleans, LA 70174. All donations are tax-deductible.

If anyone has information on Baby Yoda’s previous owner, they are urged to contact the Humane Society at info@humanela.org or by calling 1-888-648-6263 (6-HUMANE).

Established in 1988, the Humane Society of Louisiana is one of the largest animal advocacy organizations in the state and operates the Enoch J. Donaldson Animal Sanctuary in Mt. Hermon. For more information, visit its website at www.humanela.org.