Picture stumbling upon a dog lying helplessly inside a small kennel. That’s exactly what happened to Prima, a pup who had been abandoned by her owners.
This poor girl was so emaciated that she ate anything she could find just to survive, something that nearly cost her life.
By the time rescuers found her, Prima was only days away from the point of no return. Her condition was far more severe than it first appeared, and immediate treatment was her only chance.
Found In Devastating Conditions
Jannel and Robby, two volunteers from Houston, Texas, came across Prima during one of their routine visits to a local park where they often fed dumped animals. She was lying in one of the makeshift shelters that Corridor Rescue had set up for strays.
As Jannel leaned closer, she realized Prima looked anything but normal. Her belly was swollen, her frame skeletal, and she could barely lift her head.
When they got closer to her kennel, the truth became clear. Prima’s spine jutted out, her body frighteningly thin, and her distended belly suggested severe health issues, possibly advanced heartworm disease. With trembling hands, they offered her food and water. Though hesitant, she accepted.
“This girl was starved to the point that when she was dumped she ate anything she came across and continued to eat,” Corridor Rescue shared on Facebook.
Understanding she would not survive much longer on her own, the volunteers immediately contacted Corridor Rescue.
“I was shocked at what I saw when she stepped out. She was emaciated with a very large stomach. I immediately started making phone calls knowing she needed rescue right away,” Jannel wrote.
With patience, they managed to coax Prima out and load her into their car. During the drive to safety, she seemed to finally surrender, almost as if she understood these strangers wanted to help.
Defying The Odds
At the vet, Prima’s diagnosis was grim: end-stage heartworm disease. The worms had migrated into her pulmonary artery, making surgical removal nearly impossible.
For a moment, it seemed there was little hope. Classified as a hospice case, the plan was simply to keep her comfortable in a foster home, allowing her to feel safe and loved in her final days.
Her rescuers were devastated. It was clear that Prima had endured a lifetime of neglect and cruelty before being dumped like trash. Alongside her failing health, she carried deep emotional trauma and struggled to trust.
But then, after careful consideration, the medical team agreed on an aggressive treatment plan—an invasive heartworm protocol involving multiple injections spread over several months. It was risky, but it was her only chance.
In the meantime, Prima was kept on fluids, given small, frequent meals, and placed on antibiotics to strengthen her frail body.
Miraculously, she began to show signs of improvement. The bloating reduced, her energy returned, and she slowly started to look healthier. Against all odds, Prima was winning her fight.
“She wasn’t going to let anything from her past stand in her way of a happily ever after. This little miracle refused to be held down by the word hospice any longer,” the rescue wrote in a Facebook post.
With each passing week, her spirit blossomed. After months of exhaustion and pain, she finally experienced joy in her foster home—playing, relaxing, and enjoying companionship like never before.
Positive Outcome
Just a few months later, Prima was unrecognizable. Once skeletal and weak, she had filled out, her coat shone, and her eyes sparkled with life.
She turned into a fun-loving, affectionate dog who thrived on attention. According to her foster parents, Prima was pure sweetness: always ready to cuddle, always happy to be near others.
In fact, they joked that it was nearly impossible to take a still photo of her unless she was asleep, as she was always wagging, moving, or playing.
The “hospice pup” label was long gone. Prima was now strong, vibrant, and ready for a forever family. And soon enough, the perfect match appeared.
She was adopted into a loving home where she continues to shine. Her new family adores her, and she has embraced her new life with open paws, turning every day into an adventure.
After everything she endured, Prima finally knows what it means to be cherished.
All of this was possible thanks to the big-hearted rescuers who never gave up on her. Because of them, this once-forgotten dog now has a future filled with love and happiness.