When Terra, a stray dog, was rescued, she had nearly no hair and appeared afraid. A skin ailment caused her hair loss, most likely caused by her former family’s negligence.
The tiny dog had a long road to recovery, and she had no concept of what it meant to be loved. So Terra was fortunate that a compassionate veterinary assistant from West Sussex, UK, decided to help her recover.
Terra had mange, which led her to lose a lot of her hair. Mange is a horrible and painful skin disease inflicted in mammals by mites. Animals suffering from this disease are typically bald and have skin ulcers.
Strays, as well as abused or neglected pets, are vulnerable to mange. Medicated shampoos and topical treatments are used to help an animal recover from mange.
Terra drew the attention of veterinary assistant Jessie DeFreitas because of her “beautiful eyes.” DeFreitas already had four pet cats and a rescue dog at home, but she felt she’d be able to accommodate Terra. After all, if she hadn’t been rushed over to the veterinarian, the little puppy would not have survived.
DeFreitas inquired about fostering the puppy first. Terra required regular attention; therefore, she was keen to offer a safe and caring setting for her.
DeFreitas named the dog Honey, but she quickly realized it wasn’t suitable for the grumpy canine. Because she didn’t seem as good as Honey at the time, her name was changed to Terra.
Terra became more caring as she recovered from her illness. Her hair grew back, and she was left with a lovely brown and white attire. She also became far gentler and sweeter than she had before been.
DeFreitas already had a large number of animals to care for, but she’s glad she welcomed Terra into her heart as well. The veterinary assistant has a huge heart for animals and couldn’t resist taking up a stray puppy.
She consented to adopt Terra even though she was fostering her at the time. As a result, Terra is now comfortable and safe in a new and loving home.
All photos courtesy of @realfixuk/Facebook