Emaciated, shivering, and losing her fur—this was how rescuers from Howl Of A Dog found Mina at a local dog pound in Romania.
You could see the hopelessness in her eyes. She would cower in fear every time someone went near her and she would grab anything with her mouth in hopes it would be food to satiate her starving belly.
She was just skin and bones.
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Her life at the pound was one of the worst conditions her rescuers had ever witnessed in their entire years of rescuing dogs. Anyone’s heart would break seeing her and the state she was in.
But this was not the end for Mina the dog.
Mina’s Health Struggles
After being rescued from the pound, Mina was swiftly taken to the vet to have her health checked. Unfortunately, the doctor’s examinations revealed a far worse diagnosis than expected.
Mina was severely underweight and anemic. Her rescuers even had to muzzle her—not for fear of her, but for her own safety. It’s unclear if it was psychological or just her instinct to eat, but she kept trying to eat any objects she came across.
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She also had parasites in her intestinal tract, while her fur was infested with Demodex, which is a mite that can cause hair loss and itchy skin. Mina’s was a severe case of it.
But the most heartbreaking thing of all was her response to any physical touch. Mina would shake in terror from gentle pats. Even someone’s presence near her would make her tremble.
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Her gait always looked like she was crouching, and her tail was tucked between her legs every time she got up to walk.
It’s terrifying to think about what she experienced to reach this state. Not only was her problem physical, but psychological and emotional as well.
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Her Slow Journey To Recovery
A situation like Mina’s is not a walk in the park and usually requires a monumental amount of patience and understanding. Luckily, her rescuers had the hearts of angels and were with her every step of the way.
Mina got intravenous glucose, amino acids, medicine in her food, and antibiotics to target her malnutrition, anemia, and intestinal infection. She also had rounds and rounds of medicated baths and specialized shampoo to fight her Demodex infestation.
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It took three weeks before she finally doubled her weight!
However, the physical aspect of her health struggles was far easier to deal with than her psychological problems.
Slowly and carefully, her rescuers introduced gentle pats and soothing caresses to her. After a few weeks, they saw how her trembling lessened and lessened! By day 26, they finally saw her play with a toy!
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Seeing her wag her tail in great joy was one of the best rewards her rescuers could ever ask for.
Mina’s Fur-Ever Home
While Mina was busy discovering the joys in life again, her rescuers were occupied with finding her a family she could call her fur-ever home.
Thankfully, a lovely family from Germany heard about Mina’s tale and were willing to give all the care and love that Mina needed and deserved.
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Mina and her rescuers drove halfway to meet her new family in Austria, with Mina’s shelter buddy Theia tagging along to provide comfort during the stressful drive.
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After some adjustment, Mina’s new family happily reported that this miraculous pooch is doing well in Germany. She enjoys splashing in the water with her new canine sibling and scooches to them for more cuddles.
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Her transformation is truly a testament to what genuine love, patience, and care can do!
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