http://youtu.be/zyNtklk7ywA
Heartwarming footage shows how a stray dog that was on the verge of death has been rescued – and is now fighting fit celebrating a year with his new family.
The emaciated pooch was riddled with severe skin disease mange and could barely walk when it was seen in Las Pinas City in Manila, the Philippines on November 17 last year.
Resident Liza Fielder was buying fruit from a nearby stall when she noticed the dog, before kindly giving it fresh water and food.
Moving footage shows how the animal lover has since nursed the pooch, which she named Lucky, back to health. Liza and her family threw a colourful birthday party for Lucky on Tuesday to mark exactly one year since he was rescued.
Liza said: “When I found him, it was around afternoon under the heat of the sun. He was frail, just skin and bone, with a severe skin disease. He was thirsty, hungry and looking for food.”
Liza lead the dog away and drove to the veterinarian despite her fears that it could infect her other pet dog which was with her that time.
She added: “I was at first hesitant to take him away, because I didn’t have any towels or cage with me.
“That time one of my pet dogs was inside the car as well and I was scared that she might get sick and catch something from the stray dog.”
The vets returned a negative test result for distemper, a highly contagious and airborne virus that affects domestic pets. Liza then took the dog home with her to begin the rehabilitation.
She named the rescue dog “Lucky” and he was given a bath, medicine, a food, and his own isolated space to rest until the skin disease was better.
After two weeks, the dog was allowed to wander in the house and another week later, it had regained its good health.
On November 17, Lucky celebrated its first year with its adoptive family together with Liza’s 19 pet Pomeranian dogs.
With the help of her four-year-old son, Liza prepared a cake, cooked some food, and decorated their house in festive balloons.
Liza said: ”It’s the best feeling in the world to see the transformation. Lucky was only a few days away from dying, but now he’s strong and healthy.
“We gave him a first birthday party to recognize his first anniversary with us and every year he will be celebrating his birthday on the same day as his official birth date.
“I know that Lucky has gone through so much pain in his young life before I rescued him, because he is always scared. But he has a home now and he is much more confident and loving.”
The Philippines, as well as neighbouring Southeast Asian countries, has an escalation problem with stray dogs that roam city streets.
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