It might be hard to believe but this dog beat the odds and transformed into quite a healthy pooch. What once was an emaciated and sickly dog on the verge of dying got a second chance in life.
This is the tale of Arnia the dog and her miraculous transformation.
While she is now healthy and thriving in her fur-ever home, her journey was difficult and nothing short of amazing.
A Heartbreaking Scene
Source: Howl Of A Dog
On a cold December morning, rescuers from Howl Of A Dog, a dog shelter in Romania, stopped by a garage to check some stray dogs in the area.
But what they saw was way worse than they expected. Four dogs in different stages of emaciation and sickness were lying on a pile of tiles.
Source: Howl Of A Dog
The littlest of the dogs was Arnia. She was so thin that you could see her ribs poking through her fur. She shook and shivered at the touch of a rescuer.
Although the day looked sunny, the chilly December air was too cold for the thin and frail pooches. The warmest area in the garage yard was on top of a pile of tiles where the sun would hit it, so the dogs turned it into their makeshift bed.
It was a heartbreaking sight for the rescuers.
Her Rescue
Source: Howl Of A Dog
Arnia and the other dogs were taken back to the shelter to be evaluated by the vet. The staff found out that Arnia was severely underweight, dehydrated, anemic, had muscle spasms, and suffering from a bad case of Giardiasis.
Giardiasis is an infection caused by an intestinal parasite. It can make dogs suffer through bouts of diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting, among others.
Poor Arnia was so exhausted and weak from all her health complications that all she did was sleep. She only weighed 13 pounds (or six kilograms) when she was rescued, which was only half of the recommended normal weight for her size.
Her Transformation
Source: Howl Of A Dog
The rescuers from Howl Of A Dog were patient with Arnia’s situation. They slowly introduced bits and pieces of food to her. Despite barely having any energy, she would happily wag her tail during feeding time.
Source: Howl Of A Dog
Slowly but surely, she started gaining weight. The rescuers increased her food intake bit by bit and by the end of her first month in the shelter, she already looked far healthier than before!
Regaining Her Joy in Life
Source: Howl Of A Dog
Perhaps due to what she went through, Arnia knows how to find joy in the little things in life. She even gets excited about vet visits!
Arnia now resides in Germany with her adoptive fur-parents. Her new family prepared lots of toys, treats, and the warmest and coziest bed for dear Arnia.
Source: Howl Of A Dog
The shelter gave her the name Arnia, which means “strong as an eagle.” Knowing what she went through and how she overcame the odds, it is a beautiful and appropriate name for such an amazing dog!
