“[Her] sad eyes completely transformed.”
Sabine Kaufmann of animal rescue Little Steps Matter was out walking some shelter dogs in a remote Bali forest when she came across someone in dire need of her help.
Little Steps Matter
Cowering in the mud was a tiny dog. She was almost completely hairless and could hardly move because of her bent spine. Terrified and freezing cold, the pup’s entire body was shaking.
“She was incredibly sick and unable to walk,” Kaufmann told The Dodo.
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It took a bit of coaxing, but after a little while, Kaufmann was able to scoop up the injured pup and take her to get the medical care she urgently needed.
The dog’s situation was dire. Still, her rescuers never gave up. In honor of the faith they had in the dog, they named her Hope.
At the vet, they determined that Hope was 4 years old and that she had a crooked back and a hernia. She underwent intensive treatment, which included a major surgery and a week at the hospital.
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Her caring veterinary team worked tirelessly to get her feeling better. Once she was starting to heal, Hope’s foster mama, Krista, welcomed her with open arms.
“At first, she was very scared and overwhelmed,” Kaufmann said.
Hope was so shy and traumatized that she would try to hide behind her own legs. But Krista just took it one day at a time. She hand-fed Hope, gave her gentle baths and held her in her arms.
Little Steps Matter
Little by little, Hope’s fur began to grow back. And little by little, she started coming out of her shell.
Little Steps Matter
“After experiencing this human kindness for the first time in her life, Hope’s sad eyes completely transformed,” Kaufmann said.
After four months of being cared for by her foster mama, Hope was unrecognizable. She had a full coat of golden fur and a bubbly personality. It was almost like she’d turned back into a puppy.
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You can watch her full transformation here:
“It was the most beautiful thing to see her wagging her tail, playing, giving kisses and just loving life,” Kaufmann said.
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Hope’s last step on her journey was to move in with her permanent family. Now, she has a new mama and a brother named Tofu. They like to play together and keep each other company on long walks.
Little Steps Matter
In the span of just a few months, both Hope and her life have become unimaginably transformed.
To support other animals like Hope, you can make a donation to Little Steps Matter here.
