The staff at Stray Rescue of St. Louis (SRSL) is used to saving neglected animals year-round, but they saw a heartbreaking increase in cases this summer. As always, they treated every case with the utmost care — but one particular pup stood out from the rest.

When Skagway, named after a town in Alaska, entered SRSL’s headquarters, the entire staff instantly knew she was special. She looked unique, with sparse wirey hair, big pointy ears and pink, wrinkly skin. But it was her personality that caught them by surprise.

“She’s old, weak and has been neglected, like we sadly see so often,” SRSL wrote on Facebook. “She’s such a nice girl, probably around 10 years old. She has such a gentle demeanor.”

While Skagway’s hair loss and irritated skin resembled mange, the staff quickly learned that her physical appearance was caused by something else.

“She does not have mange,” SRSL wrote. “All of that hair loss you see is because she was being eaten alive by fleas!”

When she first arrived at SRSL, Skagway was sadly covered in fleas, and the look in her eyes proved she was in pain. She also seemed to have arthritis in her back legs, which affected her mobility.

Despite her setbacks, SRSL promised to help her feel better. They gave her a cleansing bath, started her new treatment plan and posted about her on Facebook, hoping someone would offer to foster her. That’s when Skagway’s perfect match reached out.

“I would love to offer her a comfy home,” Halle Gordon, one of SRSL’s fosters, commented on their Facebook post. “I just love senior dogs so much!!”

SRSL’s dedicated team kissed Skagway goodbye a few days later as she ventured off to her foster home. Skagway enjoyed all the attention she’d received from the SRSL crew, but nothing compared to being loved one-on-one by her foster mom.

Before long, the once-wrinkly pup started to grow hair again. And, despite her arthritis, Skagway found a new reason to stretch her legs.

“After one month in her foster home, we have an amazing GLOW UP to show you!” SRSL wrote on Facebook. “Skagway has even started getting up and trotting to the door on her own when her foster mom gets home.”

Skagway’s life and looks have changed drastically in less than two months since her rescue. Although she may have had a difficult upbringing, the sweet girl doesn’t think about the past anymore. She’s just living in the moment and soaking up all the affection her foster mom has to give.

“Skagway is doing great and loving life,” Gordon wrote in a Facebook comment. “She is totally spoiled and knows nothing but love now!!”

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Source: USA Today