Steven had always dreamed of finding his forever home.

But at just five months old, he ended up in a high-euthanasia shelter in Texas, and that dream seemed further away than ever.

On the day he arrived, Steven was diagnosed with a serious case of mange, leaving his little face swollen and crusty.

With the shelter’s policy, this sweet boy had only days left before he would be put to sleep forever. Thankfully, a Texas rescue stepped in at the last moment – and turned his world around completely!

A Sad Story

During a routine visit to a local shelter, the Austin Pets Alive team spotted Steven, and he immediately captured their hearts. Sarah Muirhead, one of the staff members, was especially drawn to his gentle, loving nature.

She couldn’t take her eyes off him, and when she learned he was scheduled for euthanasia, Sarah knew she had to step in – without hesitation.

Steven was battling a tough case of demodectic mange. His condition had gotten so bad that he was groaning in pain, with his poor little face looking swollen and inflamed.

“The shelter mentioned that he ‘seemed to be groaning due to pain, and his facial skin was so inflamed that his eyelids were swollen shut,” APA shared in a Facebook post.

Instead of letting him face an uncertain fate, Sarah stepped in to give Steven a second shot at life. What started as an overnight foster stay quickly became much more for this little guy!

Sarah worked tirelessly, treating him with a mix of medications—everything from oral and pain meds to soothing topical creams, fish oil, and anti-itch treatments for his poor, inflamed skin.

But the real magic came from the love and care she showered him with. And in return, Steven bloomed into the sweetest pup. What was supposed to be just one night turned into an entire month because he turned out to be the easiest foster ever!

Steven’s Transformation Today

Because of Sarah’s unwavering care, Steven didn’t just recover from mange—he completely transformed into a whole new pup. In just over three weeks, his fur grew back, and now he looks better than ever.

Beyond his good looks, Steven is the absolute definition of the perfect companion.

Steven has already mastered how to sit, follow commands, and play with his favorite toys.

“This sweet bundle of joy is almost fully housetrained and already sits like a pro. He’s a toy-loving pup who will keep you smiling for hours! Steven is still being treated for mange, but don’t worry—it’s not contagious,” APA shared in Steven’s profile.

With Sarah’s love and care, Steven has truly come out of his shell, and there’s no stopping him now!

Right now, Steven is loving his time in his foster home, but what he truly needs is a forever family to shower him with love. The shelter says this sweet lovebug is the perfect match for any type of home, whether it’s filled with kids, other pets, or just a cozy couch to cuddle on.

“Steven would thrive in ANY home and adores being around people (including kids) and other dogs,” the Texas rescue shared.

When the time is right, there’s no doubt this little guy will bring so much joy to his future family – because that’s just who he is!