PLANT CITY, Fla. — A Hillsborough County teenager received an unexpected blessing for his family recently after he helped to rescue a suffering dog.

Jessie Garcia said he was going for a walk near his Plant City home when he spotted a dog in a wooded area that looked like it was in real trouble.

What You Need To Know

  • Plant City teen Jessie Garcia says he was walking near his home when he saw a dog that seemed to be in distress

  • He called for help and his neighbor, April McNeely, rushed to the area and found that the dog was seriously overheated

  • McNeely, from McNeely Farmily Rescue and Sanctuary, got Jilly the dog the help she needed

  • To thank Garcia, McNeely and her social media followers donated thousands of dollars to help the teen's family

“When I was walking up in over here — I was in the bush — I saw a dog and it was going in circles,” he said.

Garcia went into the bushes to check on the dog and started yelling for someone to come and help it. Neighbor April McNeely rushed to the area a few minutes later and determined that the dog was seriously overheated.

McNeely believes the dog would have died without someone coming to its aid.

“We were able to get her temperature down and get her an IV and take her to emergency care,” she said.

McNeely has been taking care of the dog, which she has named Jilly, at her McNeely Farmily Rescue and Sanctuary since then.

McNeely gave Garcia a $100 gift card and when she found out his family had some urgent financial needs, she asked her social media followers to pitch in. They donated thousands of dollars.

Garcia’s mother Becky Garcia said she is very grateful for the outpouring of support for her son.

“Phenomenal,” she said. “It’s been a rocky road and she and her family have helped us a lot."

“It was something I really didn’t expect,” she added. “She said God put me and Jessie in her path for a reason.”