Emaciated Stray Dog Transforms From Fearful to Joyful in His Search for Love

A small dog was wandering the streets in late June on a Friday when he caught the eye of a Good Samaritan who would save his life.

“They immediately noticed his visible ribs and wounds to his front legs,” Pennsylvania SPCA wrote in a post to their Facebook page. “Unsure of where to turn, they brought him to the Pennsylvania SPCA’s veterinary clinic.”

The humane society named him Denim after the “the dirty and frayed collar he was wearing the day he was found” but they wondered if they should have named him “Lucky” due to the fact that he was “found by the right person.”

Poor Denim was in terrible shape. He was severely emaciated, dehydrated and he had deep wounds on his front legs.

Pennsylvania SPCA’s medical team tended to wounds and treated a complication of bloat. They explained, “With the best of intentions from his finder, he had been overfed and was suffering from food bloat. His stomach wasn’t accustomed to having so much food all at once.” Thankfully, they watched him carefully and then began a refeeding plan that would help him gain weight back safely.

But Denim’s rescuers knew that healing his emotional wounds would take longer.

As he recovered, they began to notice behaviors in Denim that hinted at his long neglect. When he left his kennel he would be initially excited but then his tail would be tucked and his ears went back. He would also frantically search for scraps of food.

He also hesitated to go outside. He wold be terrified and not want to walk or explore. “Instead, he puts the brakes on,” the SPCA wrote. “But, if his handler sits down, he’ll melt into their lap. He is very food motivated, very fearful, but also in search of love.”

A few months later, it is clear that love has won out over fear. Pennsylvania SPCA shared photos of Denim’s progress and wrote, “Today, he is an energetic puppy with a zest for life.”

Denim looks like an entirely new dog. Finnley James Truman shared on Facebook the shelter’s “before and after” photo of Denim and said, “This boy has strength, joy, and resilience. He went from petrified of the outdoors to (tonight) excitedly pulling me into the plants in the shelter field! He has never been trained so we are starting from scratch. This weekend his adoption fee is waived for ‘clear the shelters!'”

Pennsylvania SPCA added, “He is learning his manners with our staff and volunteer friends, and hopes that soon he can continue this work in his forever home.”

To adopt Denim or support the Pennsylvania SPCA during their Clear the Shelters campaign visit their website: www.pspca.org