Street animals around the world face daily struggles just to survive, often going without food and highly vulnerable to painful conditions like mange. One dog found collapsed on a roadside in India seemed to have little chance left — until rescuers stepped in, and what happened over the following two months turned his story into one worth sharing.
Found Too Weak To Move
The dog was discovered curled up on the side of a road in Udaipur, India, in July 2015, too weak to move on his own. He was severely dehydrated and suffering from advanced mange — a painful, intensely itchy parasitic skin condition that had already stripped away nearly all of his fur, leaving his skin covered in scabs and open wounds.
According to Claire Abrams Myers of Animal Aid Unlimited, the street animal rescue organization that found him, the dog was in a “tragic condition” and barely resembled a dog at all by the time he was located.
A Difficult Start To Recovery
Rescuers with Animal Aid Unlimited, a nonprofit that has operated a street animal rescue and sanctuary in Udaipur since 2002, brought the dog back to their shelter and began treatment immediately, starting with several days of continuous IV fluids to address his severe dehydration, followed by antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medication.
Physically fragile wasn’t the only challenge. In his first days at the shelter, the dog was deeply withdrawn, staying curled in a corner and staring at the wall, uninterested in food or contact. According to the shelter, “he was so exhausted and inward.” When a volunteer gently reached out to stroke his head, he flinched away, seemingly unfamiliar with the concept of gentle human touch altogether.
Staff didn’t give up, patiently offering him biscuits until he was finally willing to eat. Within just ten days of starting treatment, his skin had largely healed, thanks to regular medicated baths that gradually cleared away the mange.
A Complete Transformation
Two months after he was found, the dog was almost unrecognizable. His fur had grown back in fully, revealing a striking white coat, and his personality had transformed just as dramatically — from a fearful, withdrawn animal into a dog who clearly enjoyed affection and attention.
Myers told Reuters that the entire process took the dog from “a poor looking animal that was afraid of human touch” to “a cheerful thirsty for petting dog.” Footage of his recovery, posted to social media in September 2015, went on to gain millions of views as viewers followed his transformation from start to finish.
An Organization With A Long Track Record
Animal Aid Unlimited has grown into one of India’s largest street animal rescue organizations, operating a sanctuary that provides lifelong care for animals — including dogs, cows, and donkeys — too disabled to safely return to the streets. Stories like this one are part of a much larger body of work the organization has documented over the years, treating tens of thousands of street animals in Udaipur alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is mange, and why is it so dangerous for street dogs? Mange is a painful, intensely itchy skin condition caused by parasitic mites, which can lead to hair loss, open wounds, and infection. Left untreated, especially in already malnourished street animals, it can be life-threatening.
How long did it take for the dog to fully recover? His skin healed significantly within about ten days of starting treatment, but his full physical and behavioral transformation, including his fur growing back and his personality opening up, took roughly two months.
What treatment did Animal Aid Unlimited use to help him recover? Rescuers provided IV fluids for dehydration, antibiotics, anti-inflammatory medication, and a series of medicated baths to treat the mange, alongside patient, gentle handling to help him overcome his fear of human contact.
What happened to the dog after his recovery? Coverage of his case indicates he went on to live comfortably following his transformation, having grown from a fearful, withdrawn animal into one that responded warmly to affection and attention from shelter staff.
What is Animal Aid Unlimited? It’s a street animal rescue organization and sanctuary based in Udaipur, India, founded in 2002, dedicated to rescuing and treating injured, sick, and abandoned street animals, including dogs, cows, and donkeys.
Sources: Animal Aid Unlimited, Reuters (via Malay Mail), and GoodThingsGuy, cited above.
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