Prue Barber, the founder and sole rescuer of the charitable organization Mission Paws’ible, heard from another rescue group that a stray dog named Charlie was in need of help. She didn’t ask many questions – only where to find the dog and quickly went to work. She expected the worst but she was still aghast when she finally met him face to face.
Charlie was a walking skeleton. He was hairless and his frail body was covered with infected wounds. His broken leg dangled as he tried so hard to take a step. He was hopeless, broken, and an absolute mess.
Right off the bat, Prue knew she wanted to help, and she had to because no one else was around to save the dog. She tried to draw him toward her but Charlie was so scared of people. He always ran and escaped so she asked for assistance from dog catchers.
The rescuer made sure the catchers did not cause Charlie further harm. He could not just endure anymore pain, wound, or suffering. He’s had enough and his misery started to end the moment she decided to rescue him.
Charlie stayed at the hospital for about a month. He was in intensive care and his condition was touch and go at first. But once he was stable, he left and joined his rescuer in her home.
The dog didn’t like his rescuer at first. He tried to get away from her and ended up in the walk-in closet inside her bedroom. That was their first real encounter and it paved way for him to learn to trust her.
Within a few weeks, Charlie gained enough strength to go on walks. He even had the huge amount of energy to play with his foster dog siblings right after. Because he knew he was in a safe environment, he spent his time and effort in getting better than worrying about his life.
Prue was joyful to see Charlie recover. She could tell he was happy and that’s what mattered to her the most. And one day, when he greeted her in the morning, she just realized he’s grown so much hair already and he’s become the most handsome dog he could ever be.
Spending significant time with Charlie made Prue fall in love with her foster dog. And soon, she figured out he has always been a part of her pack and he was not going anywhere because he was home.
Source: Mission Paws’ible and The Dodo