When Barbara Zuluaga stumbled upon a photo of a small, rough-looking puppy, she had no idea what breed it could be.
“I thought she might be a Chihuahua or another tiny breed,” shared Zuluaga, a board member of A Chance to Bloom Dog Rescue in Houston, Texas, with The Dodo. The pup, covered in mange, was hard to identify.
At just eight months old, the puppy had come to BARC Animal Shelter in April, weighing only 12 pounds, although she should have weighed much more for her age.
This was because she was a Staffordshire terrier mix, severely undernourished and in poor health.
The puppy, then named Ziva, arrived at the shelter after being found chained to a tree in Houston.
In addition to being malnourished and suffering from mange, Ziva had sores all over her body and her footpads were raw from rubbing against the ground.
“It’s a heartbreaking story and, unfortunately, it’s a common one in Houston,” Zuluaga explained. “A dog would have to suffer for quite some time to develop such severe mange and malnutrition.”
Ziva was also afraid of people, trembling and avoiding eye contact whenever anyone approached her. Moved by her plight, Zuluaga took Ziva from the shelter and brought her to a veterinarian for care.
There, Stephanie Williams, one of the veterinary technicians, became deeply attached to Ziva. “It saddened me to think about her leaving, and I wanted to help her heal,” Williams told The Dodo. “So, I offered to foster her.”
Ziva stayed with Williams for two months. During this time, she gained weight, grew new fur, and had the chance to experience life as a dog.
“She learned about eating from a dog bowl, drinking from a water bowl, sleeping in a bed, and even jumping onto the couch,” Williams said. “She overcame the hardships and challenges she had faced, and I’m so proud of her.”
Many were interested in adopting Ziva, charmed by her small size and cuteness. However, Zuluaga was determined to find someone who could help Ziva through her anxiety and fears. Eventually, the perfect match was found.
“A woman reached out to me, having heard Ziva’s story and feeling a deep connection to it,” Zuluaga recalled. “She had experience rehabilitating dogs, and we had no doubt she’d be the right adopter.”
Last weekend, Ziva moved to her new home in Fort Worth, Texas, and received a new name—Roxy. “Roxy is thriving,” her new owner, Cassie Rogers, shared with The Dodo. “She sticks close to me; I’ve become her mom.”
Rogers added, “She’s starting to play with toys, adores mealtimes and treats, cuddles with us on the couch, sleeps in the bed, gives kisses, and loves running around with the big dogs. I’m absolutely in love with her.”
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