“We celebrated every bit of progress,” Don admitted.

Khaleesi was initially so frail and feeble that she couldn’t even stand. Each step she managed to take was a remarkable victory. As she grew stronger, Don strategically placed her food farther away, encouraging her to build upon her newfound strength.

While we always say that a dog is a man’s best friend, ironically, not all humans can be the same to them.

Thousands to millions of neglected dogs are all around the globe. Most of them are physically abused, beaten, and worst, starved to death.

It’s totally unbelievable, to think that these poor creatures get maltreatment by those they trust the most – humans.

On the contrary, the number of kindhearted humans is still far greater than the number of cruel ones. This beautiful story of survival and transformation is living proof that second chances are for everyone, humans and animals alike.

Animal cruelty

Khaleesi’s condition upon her rescue surpassed the mere description of being skin and bones. It was a staggering testament to her resilience that she had managed to survive in such a malnourished state.

All credit was due to the compassionate individuals at Mutty Paws Rescue in Palm Beach County, FL.

The mission of Mutty Paws was to save dogs facing the threat of euthanasia and provide extensive care to rehabilitate severely abused canines.

Truth be told, approximately 1.5 million shelter animals met their untimely demise each year, while around 1 million animals suffered abuse or lost their lives due to domestic violence. Nevertheless, there were people like Michelle and Don, who selflessly fostered dogs in need, ensuring they embarked on the journey towards a deserving new life.

“At the shelter, I came across an extremely emaciated dog,” Michelle recounted to The Dodo. “I was overwhelmed with the feeling that we had to help her!”

Road to fitness and complete recovery

When Khaleesi found solace under the care of Don and Michelle, they spared no effort in tending to her needs. They provided her with clean, adorable pajamas to sleep in and fed her small portions of food every 30 minutes.

“Adoption never crossed my mind,” Don confessed. “I simply made a commitment to nurture this dog back to health.”

And true to his words, that’s precisely what he did. Little did he know that he was unknowingly setting himself up for a “foster failure” – a term used when a foster parent falls in love with the dog and ends up adopting them.

“We celebrated every bit of progress,” Don admitted.

Khaleesi was initially so frail and feeble that she couldn’t even stand. Each step she managed to take was a remarkable victory. As she grew stronger, Don strategically placed her food farther away, encouraging her to build upon her newfound strength.

Don and Michelle were Khaleesi’s steadfast cheerleaders, they provided the thriving pup all the support at every step. However, there was another vital figure in Khaleesi’s journey: Sonny, Michelle and Don’s loyal pit bull companion.

An instant furry brother

Khaleesi started emulating Sonny’s every move, following him closely. Yet, this gentle 70-pound pit bull recognized that he needed to adapt his playfulness when interacting with Khaleesi, as she couldn’t match his size and energy.

Don described Sonny as being “as gentle as possible” with his foster sister.

“He would lie down and say, ‘If you can’t get up, I’ll come next to you.’ Sonny chose to lay on his back beside Khaleesi so they could play together, even if she couldn’t stand,” Michelle recounted. “Sonny became her emotional support dog.”

As Khaleesi’s strength grew, their bond deepened, allowing them to engage in running and playful activities. Their favorite pastime was a spirited game of tug-of-war with their toys, which greatly contributed to Khaleesi’s back muscle development.

Foster fail

When Khaleesi eventually reached a state of good health, it became evident to Michelle, Don, and Sonny that they couldn’t bear to part with her.

“The moment we agreed to adopt her, tears of joy streamed down my face,” Michelle recalled.

To commemorate this significant occasion, they presented Khaleesi with a grand celebratory cake, which she relished. Of course, she made sure to share some of it with her big brother, Sonny.

“They’re genuinely wonderful family dogs. If their lives or stories can help change people’s perception about pit bulls, that would be a tremendous victory,” Don emphasized.

Watch the inspiring video below to know more about this story.