He reached out and touched the bag, the plastic cold and slick beneath his fingers. As he did so, something inside suddenly jerked violently. The man recoiled, fighting the urge to retreat. Taking a deep breath to steady himself, he cautiously untied the knot at the top of the bag and pulled it open.

The sight that met his eyes was one of both horror and relief. Inside was a small, trembling puppy, its fur matted and eyes wide with fear. It looked up at him with a mix of confusion and pleading, its tiny body shivering from both cold and fright.