Blondie, the dog, was surrendered to the Maricopa County Pet Control Center in Arizona in late October of last year. His skin was covered with scabs and he was entirely hairless.
The thin and unwell Chihuahua resembled a mummy rather than a dog in appearance.
The puppy was placed on a waiting list for euthanasia, but the center’s volunteers were not willing to give up so easily, so they posted a video of the puppy on social media, appealing for help.
Caitlin Beall, the co-founder of Sky Sanctuary, was drawn to the video.
“It stole my breath away when I saw the video with Blondie,” she explains. The dog appeared to be in bad shape. She sat trembling in her kennel, terrified. We got it: we needed to get her out of there as soon as possible.”
Caitlin and her business partner Ellie Smith traveled to the county seat right away.
“We couldn’t wait to see Blondie,” said the group. The center’s personnel dragged her from the cage and delivered her to us. “The dog’s condition was far worse than we had anticipated,” Caitlin recalls. “I’m at a loss for words when it comes to describing her skin.”
The dog was transferred to the veterinary facility, where the physicians gave him a good prognosis: his fur, which had entirely gone out owing to the scabies mite infestation, would come back someday.
Caitlin was able to take the dog home after she was treated.
Blondie was still apprehensive of her owner, but the puppy warmed up and rapidly made friends with other dogs.
Caitlin was concerned that the dog would never be willing to trust people after all of the trials.
Blondie took a bath one evening, and it was at this point that the first gleam of optimism arose.
Caitlin recounts, “I took off her towel and waited for her to run away and hide from me like she always did.” “However, something happened that evening: Blondie moved away from me for a few feet, then returned and crawled into my lap. “I sobbed tears of joy.”
Blondie began to heal not just the scars on her skin, but also the wounds in her soul, after a few months of treatment and care. The first fur appeared, which was a beautiful chestnut color.
The dog has transformed not only on the outside but also on the inside; she now runs frequently and plays with her stepsisters and brothers.
Blondie’s appetite and faith in humanity had returned.
Caitlin is continually astonished by what a kind and joyous dog she has become, as she wildly wags her tail.
“I’m incredibly proud of her. “I can’t wait to see what this beautiful girl’s future holds,” Caitlin adds.
