About 6.3 million companion animals enter U.S. animal shelters nationwide every year. Of those, 3.1 million are dogs. Each year, a total of 920,000 shelter animals are euthanized, which results in 390,000 dog deaths.
A few of these forgotten canines are lucky to get a second chance in life with their new forever families. Probably one of the most emotionally intense experiences is witnessing these poor animals undergo incredible transformations after they are rescued.
It’s not just that they finally get much-needed medical care, are given shelter and food, but are healed by love from the inside out.
Below we wrapped up some of the most touching and inspiring examples of dogs before and after rescue that are likely to make us shed a tear or two, and remind us that love is the strongest force on our planet.
#1 I Found A Dog In The Jungle
A week ago, I was hiking the rainforest on the volcano Mount Meru, next to where I live. In the middle of the rainforest, I found a puppy. The puppy was too weak to move, and its tiny ribs and backbone poked against my fingers. I got her a blanket, soft food, water, and a bath. After 12 hours of sleep, a tiny, but very skinny puppy headed to the vet. She weighed only 2.5 kg.
A week has gone by, and I have a friend for life. She’s gaining weight and strength by the day. Her name is Koda. Short for Kodama – the forest spirits in Princess Mononoke.
#2 The First Time I Saw Norkis, He Was In Bad Shape. He Had Owners Who Said That Dog Was Old, Sick, And Waiting For His Time. I Wanted To Rescue Him And Give Him A Good Life
#3 Forever Grateful For Those Who Rescued My Guy. Before vs. After
Bored Panda reached out to this animal rescuer who runs the Home of Well-Loved Strays non-profit organization based in Floridablanca, Philippines.
“My partner and I are an LGBT couple. We’ve been rescuing cats and dogs since 2015. Currently, we have 20 dogs and 30+ cats,” the rescuer told us. She explained that they were living in metropolitan Manila and supported the animals on their own until Covid happened. “We got flooded in November 2020 and so we moved to the countryside.”
#4 Jess’s Transformation. She Was A Stray, Emaciated, Had A Ringworm Infection On Her Eyebrow, And Was 34 Lbs When We Found Her. May 2021 vs. August 2022
#5 Kodiak’s Before vs. After. He Had Mange And Was Malnourished. Once We Got Him On The Right Meds, His Hair Grew Back So Fluffy
#6 This Is My Sweet Girl, Queenie. We Rescued Her At 16, And She Crossed The Rainbow Bridge At The Age Of 17. Rest In Peace, Baby Q
We suspect her previous home stopped feeding her due to being incontinent and going through so many diapers. That’s why she was so lethargic and underweight. She had doubled her weight by the time she passed away. It was remarkable to see her bounce back like that. And her sassy attitude, my goodness, I loved that about her.
#7 This Dog Is Competing For “Top Shelter Dog Makeover,” And I’m So Emotional Right Now. Before vs. After
#8 Before vs. After I Found Her. She Really Wants To Heal
I’m lathering her with virgin coconut oil before and after the bath. She’s sleeping all the time and taking antibiotics. Her hair is still not that long, and there are still bald spots on the body and half of her face, but she’s healing.
#9 When I Found Fred On The Side Of The Road, He Was Skittish, Neurotic, And Sweet As He Could Be. One Month Later, He’s Still All Those Things, But Now He’s Fat Too
In the Philippines, the population of strays is very high. “The local government still catches strays, impounds them, then euthanizes them. But some organizations are actively offering free or low-cost neutering and spraying. Very few local governments work in partnership with them. There are also some cat groups who take care of strays in certain areas.”
#10 Bodhi When Local Organization Found Him vs. This Morning
#11 We Are Trying To Give This Baby The Best Life. We’re Still Working Through Her Issues, But Her Indomitable Spirit Keeps Us Going. She’s My Role Model. Before vs. After
#12 This Dog Was Dying In A Shelter, And My Boyfriend Was Going Through Depression Due To His Cancer. Today My Boyfriend Beat Cancer, And She Is Our New Family Member
Sadly, the chances of rescued animals finding a new home are extremely low. “The shelters are overly full and do not take in strays anymore. Most people still prefer animals with a breed,” the rescuer explained. She hopes that more people in the Philippines will give a chance to their local dogs without breeds and that their government will offer more free spaying and neutering programs.
#13 Wrinkles The Dog I Rescued. Look At Him Now With His Forever Parents
#14 Today Marks 8 Months Of Our First Meeting. We Love You, Ekko. Before vs. After
#15 I Found Him On This Day In 2016. He Had Mange, A Skin Infection, And Was Severely Dehydrated. After A Few Days, His Condition Improved, And I Could Take Him Home
