Heroes find dog covered with horrifying bumps, then they figure out what’s wrong

At first glance, it looked like a skin disease. Belle, a black dog in Johannesburg, South Africa, was covered in lumps, especially on her ears and around her eyes. The rescuers who took a closer look found something far worse, and a plan that saved her life.

Bumps Nobody Could Explain

When Belle came to the attention of animal welfare workers from Community Led Animal Welfare (CLAW), no one was sure what was wrong. According to iHeartDogs, the lumps were not a skin condition at all. They were thousands of ticks, swollen from feeding on her blood, and she had apparently been suffering for a long time. The report also noted that Belle was not a stray, which made the neglect harder to accept.

A Careful Plan

The ticks could not simply be pulled off. CLAW’s team worried that removing so many at once could make Belle bleed dangerously, so they chose a different approach. She was given a strong anti-parasitic medication that made the ticks die and fall off by themselves. The process took longer, but it was safer for a dog already weakened by blood loss.

The Turnaround

Within a few days, the ticks were gone. A volunteer who visited Belle at the shelter described a thin, quiet dog curled up in a corner with a drip in her leg and scars on her face and ears.

About a month later, the transformation was complete. Her coat had grown back, she was alert and happy, and she found her forever home. CLAW said Belle was “practically a new dog.”

Who Is CLAW?

Community Led Animal Welfare was formed more than 30 years ago to fill the gap in veterinary care in Johannesburg’s townships, according to Daily Maverick. Much of its work centers on preventive care, including sterilization, vaccinations, deworming and tick and flea treatment, as well as treating sick and injured animals. The group’s clinic is in Durban Deep, in Roodepoort.

Why Ticks Are Dangerous for Dogs

Ticks are more than an annoyance. Heavy infestations can cause anemia from blood loss, and ticks can also transmit disease. In South Africa, tick bite fever is a common and serious illness. In March 2026, CLAW treated a dog named Snoopy whose owner cycled to the clinic when she was urinating blood and her gums had turned yellow, as reported by Good Things Guy. Early treatment is vital.

Protecting Your Dog From Ticks

Prevention is far cheaper and safer than treating a severe infestation:

• Tick prevention. Ask your vet about a suitable flea and tick treatment, such as spot-on drops, chewable tablets or a tick collar.
• Regular checks. Run your hands over your dog after walks, paying attention to ears, eyes and paws, and use a tick removal tool for any you find.
• Vet care. Routine vet visits, vaccinations and blood tests can catch tick-borne diseases early.
• Pet insurance. Pet insurance can help with emergency bills for tick-related illness.
• Home and yard. Pest control and tidy grass can reduce ticks around your property.
• Support rescue. A donation to an animal welfare charity funds treatment for neglected animals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Belle? A black dog in Johannesburg, South Africa, who was rescued while covered in thousands of ticks.

Who rescued her? Community Led Animal Welfare (CLAW).

Why couldn’t the ticks be pulled off? Removing so many at once risked dangerous blood loss, so vets used medication to let them die and fall off.

Was Belle adopted? Yes. About a month after her rescue, she found a forever home.

Sources: iHeartDogs.com, Daily Maverick, and Good Things Guy, all covering the rescue of Belle, a dog covered in ticks, by Community Led Animal Welfare (CLAW) in Johannesburg, South Africa.