Asenior dog who was discovered clinging on for dear life to an overturned shopping cart in the middle of a canal has completed a remarkable turnaround.

Dorothea the 10-year-old chihuahua mix might not be here today were it not for the efforts of staff at the Arizona Humane Society (AHS) along with the AHS Emergency Animal Medical Technician (EAMT) and the Phoenix Fire Department.

It all started back on June 16, when AHS dispatchers received a call from a passerby who had spotted a distressed dog who was stranded in a canal.

Quite how Dorothea had ended up in that position or how long she was in the canal for is a mystery but it was clear that she needed urgent help. AHS EAMT Hunter Stribling was dispatched and, along with the help of Phoenix Fire, arrived on scene and quickly devised a plan to save the pup.

Using a combination of a ladder and a variety of AHS rescue devices, they were able to get Dorothea to safety, with the senior pup showing her understandable gratitude once they reached the safety of the shore.

The AHS shared footage of the dramatic rescue to TikTok alongside the caption “miracles do happen.” Yet saving Dorothea was only the start of it.

Understandably frightened of the newfound attention she was getting, Dorothea nevertheless submitted herself to a quick medical assessment on AHS’ Pet Ambulance.

An AHS spokesperson told Newsweek: “She was found to be dehydrated, hungry, covered in ticks and a bit stinky from the canal water. The senior pup was then rushed to AHS’ Lazin Animal Foundation Trauma Hospital where veterinarians gave her a more thorough exam.”

Though Dorothea was found to have only incurred minor injuries, some dental work was required, as she had a couple of fractured teeth.

Eager to give her the best chance of making a full recovery and eventually being adopted, Dorothea was kept at the shelter for a month and even enjoyed a spa day with the AHS groomer as well as constant cuddles and attention from people.

As a senior pup, she faced a more significant challenge when it came to finding a forever family. A previous study by the website Priceonomics, using adoption data from Petfinder, highlights the challenge: while 95 percent of puppies listed found a home, that proportion dropped to 68.2 percent among senior dogs.

Dorothea had been lucky that someone was passing that day and called into the AHS but there was nothing lucky about what happened next: she was adopted by a family from Youngtown, Arizona, who instantly fell in love with this incredibly brave and incredibly cuddly canine.

She’s now looking forward to enjoying her senior years in the comfort and safety of a true forever home. The AHS spokesperson said: “Although it is unknown how long or why she was there in the canal, Dorothea’s incredible story highlights the lifesaving work that the Arizona Humane Society is able to accomplish as it cares for almost 22,000 pets each year.”