Abandoned With Skin Like Cement, He Found Love Where No One Expected

They had never seen a dog in such devastating condition. His skin was hardened and cracked, layered thick like dried cement, pulling painfully with every movement he made.

The villagers explained that his owner had refused treatment when the first signs of illness appeared. What started as manageable mange slowly consumed his body until he was no longer “worth” caring for. Eventually, he was abandoned.

Yet somehow, he survived. The dog wandered into a group’s residence, weak but still hopeful. People assumed the men would chase him away. Instead, they offered him scraps of food and a small corner to rest.

Later, one of them brought him to a kind farming family and asked if they could care for him temporarily. They agreed without hesitation. Though they had little, they gave him warmth and protection.

The alley became his familiar space. Children grew used to seeing him there, and no one pushed him away.

When the rescuers first saw him, even they were stunned. His body was encased in thick layers of crusted skin. The odor of infection lingered around him. At the clinic, doctors immediately began testing.

Severe mange had damaged multiple layers of skin tissue, and high-dose antibiotics were started at once. Samples were taken carefully, and the team prepared for a long, uncertain recovery.

Despite everything, he had an appetite. He devoured the homemade meals brought to him, finishing every bowl as if afraid it might disappear. Vitamins and supplements were added to strengthen his immune system.

The itching tormented him at night, leaving him restless and distressed, but gradually the medication began to work.

After just a few days, something remarkable happened. The thick scales started loosening and falling away. The doctors were surprised by the speed of improvement.

His eyes, once guarded and suspicious, softened. He began allowing gentle hands to touch him. He leaned into affection rather than shrinking away from it.

Within a week, visible changes covered his body. The crusts thinned. Pink, healthy skin appeared beneath. Fine hairs began growing where there had once been only damage.

The veterinarian admitted that his recovery was progressing faster than expected. Each visit became a quiet celebration of small victories.

When he was finally allowed outside after three weeks, he hesitated at first. The open space frightened him, and he instinctively ran back toward the safety of his cage.

But with calm voices and steady reassurance, he slowly stepped forward. In that moment, he looked up with moist eyes, as if overwhelmed by the realization that the pain had stopped and he was finally safe.

Poleng was officially discharged not long after. The same kind woman from the village chose to adopt him, ensuring he would never return to neglect again. His fur grew back thick and glossy.

His body strengthened. More importantly, his spirit transformed. He played, welcomed visitors with enthusiasm, and rested peacefully without scratching through the night.

His journey was not just physical healing; it was the restoration of dignity. A dog once covered in suffering became living proof that compassion from ordinary people — farmers, villagers, rescuers — can rewrite a life.

And for Poleng, that compassion became his forever home.