Animal rescuers encounter countless difficult scenes, but some linger in memory long after the rescue is over. Their work demands patience, empathy, and perseverance in equal measure.

When a dog is abandoned and neglected to the point that the head and tail are indistinguishable, even experienced rescuers are taken aback. Images like that remain with those who witness them.

A rescue team in Lubbock, Texas, came across such a dog and immediately recognized the challenging task ahead. The timid pup shuffled along, avoiding eye contact, uncertain of what awaited him. Yet the team was determined to offer him a true second chance at life.

A Condition They Had Never Seen Before

Tori Houston , a volunteer with the South Plains SPCA , received an urgent call from her supervisor, Kim M

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