Staffers of the Villalobos Rescue Center in New Orleans were about to begin their day when they spotted a sick dog outside their facility. They quickly secured the dog and brought it inside. They offered it some food and water and then had it checked by their resident vet right after.
The dog, now called Lilac, was in the worst imaginable state. Her skin was sore and her entire body was covered with open wounds. But what really surprised the staffers was that she wasn’t a dog, but a puppy.
Lilac was only 7 months old and yet, she had been through the worst. Her mange was so severe, but it didn’t occur overnight. She suffered for a long time, that’s for sure, and her previous owners didn’t care about her health.
Without her fur, it was pretty difficult for anyone to tell what Lilac’s breed was. Some of the staffers thought she was an American Bully while others said she was a Pitbull. When her DNA test came out, she turned out to be an American Staffordshire Terrier-Bulldog mix.
For several weeks, Lilac needed medicated baths every couple of days. It helped soothe her skin and she felt so refreshed right after each wash. Gradually, she healed, at least physically, but her past took a toll on her social and emotional state.
Lilac distrusted humans, especially men. It took just a little while before she warmed up to the female workers at the rescue center. She ignored them for a few days before she decided she wanted to be friends with them. But with men, it was a completely different story.
The dog tried to bite every male person who wanted to meet her. Even with the slightest touch, she flinched. But because everyone at Villalobos Rescue Center understood what she’d been through, they remained forbearing and gave Lilac all the time she needed to try and learn to trust again.
Eventually, Lilac’s faith in humans was restored. She couldn’t get enough attention from everyone and she demanded to play with them all the time. She was ready to be part of a loving family, so her rescuers went ahead and sent her to her forever home in New Jersey.
Lilac is now a happy, gorgeous, and healthy dog. She adores her new human family and she knows that they will never toss her out on the streets if ever she gets sick again.
Credits: Villalobos Rescue Center and YouTube/Really
