This heartwarming video shows the miraculous recovery made by a dog suffering from mange so severe her skin had ‘turned to stone’.
The helpless street dog, who has since been named Alice, was discovered lying in the back of an abandoned tuk-tuk in India.
She was suffering from mange – a skin disease caused by parasitic mites that results in severe itching and hair loss – and her coat had become as hard as stone.
No hope: Helpless street dog is discovered emciated while lying in the back of an abandoned tuk-tuk
Here to help: A staff member attempts to gain the trust of the dog by hand-feeding her biscuits
Adding insult to injury the extremely weak dog was also emaciated and had been left to die a slow and painful death.
But a happy ending was around the corner for this particular pooch and thankfully Animal Aid Unlimited – a leading street animal rescue centre in India – came to her rescue.
Footage of the recovery shows a staff member attempting to gain the trust of the dog by hand-feeding her biscuits.
Despite being dazed and in obvious pain, the starving animal reaches out and begins eating what may have well been her first bit of food for days.
The dog is suffering from severe mange and as a result her coat has become as hard as stone
After a little struggle the man is able to wrap the animal up in a blanket and take her back to the centre
Eventually the man is able to wrap the animal up in a blanket and after a little struggle carry her to the van and take her back to the centre in Udaipur.
At the rescue centre staff begin rubbing lotion into the dog’s broken and crusting skin to relieve some of the pain.
While at the centre the dog also enjoys her first ever bath and after a little while some of the scabs start to fall off.
By day four the dog’s skin is almost completely smooth and some sections of fur have started to grow back.
On the road to recovery: At the rescue centre staff rub lotion into the dog’s broken and crusting skin
Signs of progress: By day four the dog’s skin is almost completely smooth and fur has started to grow back
And by week six the pooch has completely recovered from the mange, meaning that she is now able to enjoy her life to the fullest once again.
The video shows the once sorrowful looking animal appearing much happier while wagging her tail in an exercise area.
The clip concludes with Alice cuddling up to a member of staff as other rescue dogs sunbathe in the background.
New lease of life: By week six the pooch has completely recovered from the mange and looks much healthier
All smiles: Alice cuddles up to a member of staff as other rescue dogs sunbathe in the background
Since being posted YouTube the clip has received a number of comments from users touched by the footage.
One viewer wrote: ‘I love your wonderful work… thank you for helping,’ while another joked: ‘Who is cutting onions in my room?’
Animal Aid Unlimited is a hospital and sanctuary that is home to more than 4,500 rescued and recovered animals each year.
Video shows the once sorrowful looking dog appearing much happier while wagging her tail in an exercise area