A stray, starving dog with skin looking like barnacles was found alone in the streets of India. The canine, which looked like she was on the brink of life and death, was rescued in the nick of time when an animal rescue group found her. With love and care, she made an incredible recovery.
Animal Aid Unlimited is a rescue center based in Udaipur in the northwestern state of Rajasthan, India. Apart from rescuing stray animals living in the area, the organization also provides hospital care and sanctuary to injured and sick animals such as dogs and cows.
In 2017, the group received a call that a stray dog was suffering from severe mange and was in need of immediate care.
In a video filmed by the group and uploaded to YouTube, the dog, later named Cherry, was lying on the ground as villagers walked past it without taking a second glance.
“She looked like an old and dying dog,” the rescue group said in the clip.
Upon taking a closer look, the rescuers noticed that Cherry had lost her fur due to mange, and a scaly, barnacle-like layer of scabs was covering her entire neck region. There were also flies swarming around the scabs.
Looking at her emaciated body, it seemed like Cherry have been living on the streets for quite some time. While rescuing the scared dog, one of the rescuers first tried to gain her trust by feeding her with some biscuits while another rescuer crept up quietly from behind with a net. Swiftly, the rescuers managed to capture Cherry while she was distracted with food.
Once Cherry was safely caught in the net, the rescuers quickly took the frightened dog back to their facility for medical treatment.
Alluding to the dog, which was in a lamentable state, Animal Aid Unlimited wrote on Facebook that “her pain excruciating and weary from the itchiness caused by mange mites under her skin,” looked miserable as she lay inside a room. However, determined to give Cherry a second chance at life, the rescuers knew that her personality would shine through after her pain was gone.
To get rid of the mange, the rescuers provided Cherry with many treatments, starting with a medicated lotion that would help soften the scabs, the group said in the video. In just a few days, the scabs were gone, and Cherry finally received her long-awaited first bath.
After a few weeks of treatment, which included a whole lot of love and care, a new dog emerged—Cherry became totally unrecognizable. Her beautiful fur was back after the mange disappeared. She also looked a lot healthier and has started to trust the staff at the animal rescue center, and didn’t mind being embraced.
After the treatment, Cherry was spayed and vaccinated.
Those who have come across the video have been touched by Cherry’s transformation. Many of them have also applauded and appreciated the rescuers for their efforts in nursing the once severely emaciated dog, which had been covered with painful scabs and flies.
“Thank you for being a [sic] loving and shining light to this puppy. The tail says it all,” one YouTube user wrote.
Meanwhile, another one added: “I actually cried this is so emotional. You are so amazing helping dogs in need or any animal because they can’t do it themselves and the transformation was overwhelming. Please carry on doing this.”
A third viewer even praised the rescuers for their efforts: “This video is proof that not all hero’s wear capes. Huge respect for you guys.”
Watch Cherry’s incredible transformation in the video:
Video courtesy of Animal Aid Unlimited ( Facebook | YouTube )
