Dozens step up to save Wally 'the Walgreens dog'

CREATED Nov. 30, 2012

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  • While he looks quite at home on his plush leather couch, for this mangy mutt, it's been a life on the run. Video by kgun9.com

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Reporter: Maggie Vespa

TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) - They say every dog has its day.  That couldn't be truer for one poor pup, who is now getting a whole lot of love from complete strangers, set on finding him a home for the holidays.

While he looks quite at home on his plush leather couch, for this mangy mutt it's been a life on the run.
 
"There were several people, over 20 people, that have been trying to catch it," said animal expert Marc Hammond.
 
Lately it was a life lived behind the Walgreens on Valencia and Nexus.
 
Customers who had seen the desert dwelling dog wandering, skinny and scared of strangers, decided he needed help.
 
"She had put a post out on Facebook," said Chantel Gregg, referring to a friend.  "I saw it, and actually that post- about 100 people saw that post."
 
Soon, all that attention produced a fanpage for Wally, the Walgreens dog.
 
Dozens, including Hammond, stepped up to help.
 
"We went out there with a trap, and it didn't work," he said.  "The dog was sniffing the trap.  The trap came down on the dog's nose."
 
Wally's fans didn't give up, and the second go-around was a success.
 
Still his battle wasn't over.  Wally was malourished and in need of medical care.
 
Again his fans came to his rescue, including Tucson's teen author, Levi Fallavollita.
 
"It was heartbreaking," said Gregg, his mother.  "He was just so so thin, and we just knew it was something we wanted to be involved in."
 
"I was really excited that he was going to be in good care, and that we were able to catch him," said Levi.
 
He says Wally's story was like a page from his book, literally.  His most recent work is titled "Why a Boy Should Marry His Dog."
 
He donated part of the proceeds to pay Wally's medical bills.
 
"I've always loved animals, and so I wrote the book to help animals who are in need," he said.
 
Now Wally is in a foster home.
 
His fans are patiently waiting for a family to fall in love, like they have, with the Walgreens dog.
 
"I think there's going to be a bunch of people fighting over this little fella," said Gregg.
 
If you would like to help Wally or, even better, make him a part of your family, head to his fanpage to find out how.
 
You can also purchase a copy of Levi's book by clicking here.