Rescued mange puppy transformation: When Barbara Zuluaga first saw the photo of a sick, crusty-skinned puppy, her heart dropped. The tiny pup looked nothing like a recognizable breed — just a fragile little soul who had clearly suffered for far too long.
“I honestly thought she was a Chihuahua or some kind of small breed,” said Zuluaga, a board member at A Chance to Bloom Dog Rescue in Houston, Texas. “Her skin was raw, she was covered in mange, and her body was so emaciated it was hard to even tell what kind of dog she was.”
But the puppy, later named Ziva, wasn’t small by nature. She was an 8-month-old Staffordshire terrier mix, so malnourished and sick she weighed just 12 pounds — barely half of what she should’ve.
Found Chained to a Tree, Covered in Sores
Ziva had been discovered in heartbreaking conditions: chained to a tree in Houston, left alone and exposed. Rescuers brought her to BARC Animal Shelter in April, where they found her suffering from severe mange, raw open sores, and paw pads rubbed nearly down to the bone.
“It’s absolutely tragic, and sadly, not uncommon in Houston,” Zuluaga explained. “For a dog to get this bad — with mange this severe and malnourishment — she must’ve been neglected for a very long time. Her suffering was obvious the moment we saw her.”
Ziva trembled at the touch of humans, flinching even from gentle hands. “She wouldn’t make eye contact,” Zuluaga said. “She was broken in every possible way.”
A Rescue and a Bond That Changed Everything
Determined to give Ziva a chance, Zuluaga pulled her from the shelter and got her immediate medical care. That’s where Stephanie Williams, a vet tech at the clinic, first met her — and instantly fell in love.
“I couldn’t bear the thought of her leaving without knowing what love felt like,” Williams said. “So I volunteered to foster her. I wanted to be part of her healing.”
Over the next two months, Ziva blossomed.
She gained healthy weight. Her fur began to grow back. She learned to eat from a dog bowl, drink clean water, and sleep in a real bed, things she’d never experienced before.
“She jumped on the couch for the first time,” Williams smiled. “She learned what it felt like to be safe. I’m so proud of her strength and her will to trust again.”
From a Forgotten Pup to a Beloved Family Member
Ziva’s sweet personality began to shine through, and interest in her adoption skyrocketed. But Zuluaga knew this wasn’t just any dog — she needed a special family, someone who could understand the emotional scars she still carried.
That perfect match came in the form of Cassie Rogers, who reached out after reading Ziva’s story online.
“She told me she’d worked with fearful, abused dogs before,” Zuluaga said. “I knew instantly she was the right one.”
Last weekend, Ziva found her forever home in Fort Worth, Texas — and with it, a new name: Roxy.
A Happy Ending She Fought Hard to Reach
“Roxy is doing fabulously,” Rogers shared. “She’s glued to my side — I’ve become her person. She snuggles on the couch, plays with toys, gives kisses, and sleeps in bed every night. She’s learning what it means to just be a dog.”
From being chained, bald, and broken, Roxy has become a picture of resilience. Her scars tell a story of pain — but her eyes now sparkle with love.
“She’s truly a miracle,” Rogers said. “I’m completely in love with her.”
Related: Shelter Dog Who Refused To Look At Anyone Makes The Most Amazing Transformation
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