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Baby India: Abandoned newborn found in woods receives over 1,000 adoption offers

The newborn, who was found bloody and wrapped in a plastic bag, may now have a second chance at finding a loving family

Victoria Gagliardo-Silver
New York
Friday 28 June 2019 19:36 BST
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Officers rescue newborn baby tied up in plastic bag

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A newborn baby found wrapped in a plastic bag in the woodlands of Georgia has received more than 1,000 adoption offers.

Baby India, as she was named by police, was found with her umbilical cord still attached after two teen girls thought they heard a baby crying in the woods near their home in early June.

The pair convinced their father, Alan Ragatz, that the cries were from a baby, not an animal, and the three ventured into the woods to search for the source of the cries.

The family found a plastic bag containing the still-bloody child, and called the police.

“She was alive. She was crying, so we figured that was a good sign,” said Mr Ragatz. “Could have been worse. The credit goes to my girls. They were the ones sticking with it.”

Baby India was taken to a local hospital after authorities administered first aid and wrapped her in blankets. She was found to be in good health.

Now it looks like India will get the loving family she deserves as over 1,000 families have offered to adopt the abandoned infant, the Today Show reported.

Hundreds of people have sent baby India well wishes and tips to who her parents may be, in addition to reaching out to the Forsyth County authorities that found the newborn, offering to provide a safe home.

“It’s amazing the number of people who are looking to take on a new life into their families,” County Sheriff Ron Freeman said, “and we got somebody who tried to throw one away.”

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For now, India remains in the care of Georgia’s Department of Family and Children’s Services.

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