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By Alice Gibbs
Senior Reporter
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A dog found surviving on the streets of Houston by eating roadkill is now safe and beginning a slow recovery, according to the rescuer who helped save her.
The dog, named Neda, was discovered in an extreme state of neglect after being spotted eating the remains of another dog on the side of the road. Houston animal rescuer, Samantha Dix, shared the case on social media, describing it as a stark example of what some stray animals endure to stay alive.
“She is in foster care learning how to love,” Dix told Newsweek. “She is trying to gain some weight since she is so thin. She will eventually travel to Wisconsin after she completed heartworm treatment. This is very common in Texas for animals to eat road kill to survive.”
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Neda was rescued by Lola’s Lucky Day, a Houston‑based nonprofit that works to save dogs from the streets and place them into foster care and adoption pathways. Since her rescue, Neda has been placed with a foster family, where Dix said she is slowly regaining strength and learning to trust people again.
Cases like Neda’s come amid ongoing strain on animal welfare systems across Texas. According to data from Shelter Animals Count, a national database that tracks U.S. shelter trends, Texas continues to report some of the highest shelter intakes in the country. While national intake numbers have declined slightly since the pandemic, shelters and rescues in many parts of Texas remain near capacity, particularly during peak seasons.
In its most recent reports, Shelter Animals Count has warned that shelters across the U.S. are facing “ongoing capacity pressures,” with animals staying longer in care as adoption rates struggle to keep pace. Texas has been repeatedly identified by animal welfare advocates as a state where overpopulation, limited access to spay and neuter services, and high numbers of stray animals contribute to crisis‑level conditions.
On social media, Dix shared the story where people were shocked and heartbroken. “Texas sucks as far as animals are concerned. Never have I ever seen or heard of so many abandoned, left or ready for euthanasia animals in my life,” said one commenter.
Another wrote: “This breaks my heart. This pup looks a lot like my baby, who is also a rescue. I’m so happy this sweetie is finally safe!”
For Dix, Neda’s survival is both heartbreaking and hopeful. She said the dog’s next steps include continuing medical treatment and gaining weight before being transported out of state, where demand for adoptable dogs is often higher.
“No more roadkill,” Dix said. “Only safety from here on out.”
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