Every puppy deserves to be cherished by humans who promise to keep them safe and bring them joy.
Sadly, far too many dogs face cruelty and neglect from the very people who should have loved them unconditionally.
Lotte, a five-month-old pup, was one of those heartbreakingly mistreated dogs. Instead of a carefree life filled with tail wags and cuddles, she endured suffering at the hands of her owners.
Even after all the pain, the little dog refused to give up on people. Exhausted and starving, she dragged her frail body to a woman’s porch in Texas, hoping someone kind would finally notice her cries for help.
A Kind Stranger Steps In
When the woman saw the frail puppy on her porch, she was crushed by the sight. Later named Lotte, the pup was nothing but skin and bones and covered in mange.
The kind woman tried offering her food, but Lotte was too weak to eat.
Worried for her survival, she rushed the puppy to Austin Pets Alive.
Arriving at the shelter at 6 a.m., she met Rene, one of the volunteers, and pleaded with him to accept Lotte.
Rene was shaken by the sight before him.
“Starved. Covered in mange. And marks around her mouth that look hauntingly like it had been taped shut or potentially muzzled for an excessive amount of time,“ the Austin shelter wrote in a Facebook post.
Although Austin Pets Alive wasn’t technically an intake shelter, the woman wouldn’t give up, begging Rene to take the dog into their care.
Touched by Lotte’s desperation, Rene reached out his hand to comfort her. She seemed to understand instantly that she was finally safe—and her body relaxed with gratitude.
Finding Comfort At Last
Rene gently placed Lotte in a kennel and made sure she was cared for while speaking to the shelter staff about what could be done for her.
The team was heartbroken at the sight of her frail little body. They didn’t know her full story, but the evidence of neglect was impossible to miss.
“It is hard to know the full picture of her history, but we believe—because of the time it takes for mange to worsen, emaciation to occur, and her reluctance to eat—that she was neglected or abused,” Luis Sanchez, the director of public relations and communications at Austin Pets Alive, said in an interview.
They believe Lotte managed to escape her abusers and collapsed onto that porch in search of kindness.
The medical team immediately began treatment, tending to her mange and surrounding her with gentle care.
Healing Begins
The staff worked tirelessly to help Lotte forget her painful past. Despite everything she had endured, the little pup amazed them with her loving nature.
She gazed at her caregivers with trusting eyes, filled with gratitude for the chance she had been given.
Day by day, her condition began to improve, though she still needed time to recover fully.
Once her treatment is complete, Lotte will be ready to move into a foster or forever home where she can finally experience the love she deserves.
This sweet puppy is waiting for the family who will show her that life is meant to be beautiful, safe, and full of love.