In early November, a Good Samaritan walked into Stray Rescue of St. Louis (SRSL) carrying a tiny puppy who desperately needed help. The 4-month-old dog’s skin was pink, wrinkled and cracked, with only small patches of fur clinging to her fragile body.
The staff knew immediately what she was suffering from.
“Another little baby comes to us with mange,” Stray Rescue of St. Louis (SRSL) wrote on Facebook. “She’s lost nearly all of her hair.”
The French bulldog mix was inflamed from nose to tail, and every inch of her skin looked painful.
While no one knows exactly what her life was like before she arrived at the shelter, one thing was clear — she had finally made it somewhere safe.
“Her little wrinkled forehead makes her look so worried,” SRSL wrote, “but soon she’ll know she’s right where she needs to be.”
The rescue team named her Pebble and immediately began a careful treatment plan. Daily medicated baths, antibiotics and constant monitoring became part of her routine. The road ahead wouldn’t be easy, but Pebble never stopped being sweet, gentle and trusting.
“We can’t wait for this glow-up,” the rescue wrote.
Week by week, Pebble began to heal. The angry redness faded. The cracking stopped. Her skin softened, and tiny tufts of fur slowly started to appear.
By the one-month mark, the transformation was undeniable.
“She is no longer painful, bleeding or cracking,” SRSL shared in an update. “Her fur is so soft and growing in with the cutest little spots!”
The team knew Pebble would eventually feel better — but even they were stunned by just how quickly love and care worked their magic. With smooth skin, bright eyes and a fuzzy little face, she looked like an entirely different puppy.
“It’s amazing what four weeks of love, nourishment and care will do,” SRSL wrote.
Not long after, Pebble’s forever family arrived. The puppy who once came in hurting and nearly hairless left the shelter safe, comfortable and deeply loved.
Now, Pebble spends her days in a warm home, curled up with the people who adore her — a far cry from the painful start she once endured.
The rescue team couldn’t be happier watching her new life begin.
“Pebble, the world is yours, my love,” SRSL wrote. “We couldn’t be happier for you.”
To help more puppies like Pebble get the care they deserve, you can donate to Stray Rescue of St. Louis.
