A starved dog from North Carolina has found a new lease on life after being rescued from severe neglect.
In a Facebook post shared on Tuesday, Brother Wolf Animal Rescue shared the story of Alicia, a 1-year-old pup who was found chained outside and severely underweight by a local shelter, and then surrendered to them after testing positive for heartworm.
“Many rural shelters simply don’t have the resources for this kind of care, so they turn to us for help,” Rebeka García, a spokesperson for Brother Wolf, told Newsweek.
The post goes on to describe the heartbreaking conditions in which she was found, sad and forgotten, tied up with a rusted chain in a six-foot circle with nothing but an empty bowl in front of her.
“We welcomed Alicia with open arms, and despite all she had endured, she amazed us with her gentle, affectionate nature. We started her on a healthy feeding plan to help her gain weight and placed her in a loving foster home, where she experienced soft blankets and toys for the first time,” Garcia continued.
Brother Wolf Animal Rescue
Once Alicia was brought back to health, she was adopted into a loving home where she’s now completely pampered and treated like a princess.
“These days, she enjoys sunbathing, cozy blankets, and all the love she deserves,” Garcia added.
While Alicia got her happy ending, many shelter dogs are not as lucky as her. Of the almost 3 million dogs that entered U.S. shelters in 2024, only about 2 million were adopted, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).
Approximately 554,000 were returned to their owners, and of the remaining pups who weren’t lucky enough to get a new home, around 334,000 were euthanized, and 524,000 were transferred to other organizations.
Over 30 states impose “holding periods” on shelters, a minimum amount of time required to hold a pet before re-homing or euthanizing them, to allow the pet’s owners, if any, enough time to contact the shelter and reclaim their animal, according to the Animal Legal and Historical Center.
Often this period lasts between five and seven days, however, it can be as short as 48 to 72 hours in some cases.
The post received over 700 interactions on Facebook, and internet users can’t cope with her incredibly glow up since she’s in her new home.
One user, Greenwich Free Press, said: “Love this! Dogs on chains should be illegal in every state.”
Gina Stawicki wrote: “Looks like a young pup who has easily forgiven and just wants some love. Happy that she has found her forever home now.”
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