You may have seen them, dogs or cats dumped on the side of the road because the owners no longer want them. Scared, lonely and hungry they wander around not knowing what to do or where to go.

Thank goodness for the people who run rescue organizations for these helpless animals. They take them in, clean them up, make sure they are fed and cared for and then, best of all, find them loving homes.

An eight-week-old puppy was tossed from a car at a busy Indiana truck stop and a good Samaritan scooped him up and took him to the Midwest Rescue of Illinois, who rescue pit bulls. However, the group soon found that the puppy was not a pit bull, but the “mystery mix” was accepted anyway.

“Indy was no pit bull, but he was ours now. This adorable, traumatized ball of fur who cried inconsolably quickly thrived under his foster mom’s loving care,” said Julie Kramer from the Midwest Rescue of Illinois. “Indy blossomed into a happy, playful pup. We dubbed him our ‘mystery mix,’ posted his profile online and started a round of adoption days. Then one day, at a PetCo Adoption Day, the Bedard family wandered over. Twelve-year-old Alex spotted Indy and it was love at first sight.”

Berwyn mom Cathy Bedard was running errands with one of her three children when they stopped at a PetCo. When her daughter, Alex, pulled her over to look at a puppy she knew she was in trouble.

“I grudgingly went over to talk with the people there,” Bedard said. “Indy was looking at my daughter with so much love and she was returning the ‘look.’ I knew I was sunk. I went home and told my husband about the strange looking puppy. He wanted to learn more about this puppy so we went to the Midwest Rescue Web site and read all about Indy.”

Each of Rick and Cathy Bedard’s three children have developmental disabilities, but Indy doesn’t care and has even helped the children in so many ways.

“We have seen Ricky's speech improve,” Bedard said. “He enjoys telling Indy to sit, stay, down, leave it, good job and good boy and feels so proud when Indy responds. Alexandra loves to take Indy in the yard to play. She also loves to share special time with Indy. The two of them spend hours in her room bonding.

“Tiffany, our youngest child, has Down syndrome, autism, is hearing impaired and physically and medically challenged. Tiffany and Indy have a special bond. Indy loves to sit by Tiffany and give kisses. Tiffy laughs her little head off.”

In fact, Indy’s story is so inspiring that it was one of ten finalists chosen by Purina Pro Plan for a Rally to Rescue contest. People are encouraged to go to www.rallytorescue.org to vote for Indy.

As finalists the Bedards have already won a trip to California in October to attend the Ambassadors Recognition Event and a one-year supply of ProPlan dog food for Indy.

The contest began months ago when ambassadors from rescue centers were asked to submit a brief essay on a special pet who had been rescued. Kramer submitted Indy's story and it was chosen from hundreds of entries as one of the 10 finalists. People will be allowed to vote on the Website and at Rally Across America tour stops through September. The grand prize winner will receive coupons good for $5,000 in ProPlan brand pet food for the rescue organization.

“At Midwest Rescue, we believe in doing more for pets,” Kramer said. “But the truth is, pets, especially little ‘throwaways,’ do even more for us.”

And whether he wins or not, Indy will always hold a special place in the hearts of the Bedard family.

“Indy has worked his magic with the whole family,” Bedard said. “Indy gives our son, Ricky, the gift of high self-esteem, he gives Alex the gift of friendship and Tiffy the gift of love and kindness. Indy’s gift to Rick and me is happiness, joy and sheer delight.”

That’s a lot of wonderful things to come from one little puppy that someone “threw” away.