The little dog’s eyes spoke volumes: He was in pain and needed help. Life as a stray in Arkansas had left him with no fur, and Demodex mange had turned his skin into one big sore. Yet, through it all, he still held on to hope. This pup, later named Goulash, was lucky enough to have someone who cared.

Rochelle Steffen

Rochelle Steffen, the founder of Mac’s Mission, saw a photo of the pink dog with soulful eyes on Facebook, and it tugged at her heart.

“When a dog like this has Demodex mange, it’s like their skin is melting off. The Demodex mites cause the hair to fall out, and then the skin becomes raw,” Steffen explained to The Dodo. “Mange like this is slow to progress, and finding a dog in this condition speaks to the neglect of its former owner. Despite everything, he was quiet from the pain but still wagged his tail.”

At Mac’s Mission’s Missouri rescue center, Goulash received the medicine he needed to kill the Demodex mites and soothing baths to help his skin start to heal. “We have amazing volunteers and supporters who really rallied behind him to help him in his recovery,” Steffen shared. “He never stopped wagging his tail. Mange is one of our specialties, and since 2009, we’ve been rescuing dogs like him. These are some of the most beautiful transformations we see.”

Steffen was confident that Goulash would have a glow-up that would help him get adopted, though little did she know he had already won someone’s heart.

A New Beginning

While Goulash was undergoing treatment, a volunteer fell in love with him and decided to foster him, taking the lead in nursing him back to health. For the first time, Goulash was able to sleep in soft, warm beds and experience the love of a family.

Goulash quickly settled into his new home and became the happiest boy. He loves snuggling and playing with his foster family.

“He is so loving and is always by my side,” his foster mom told The Dodo. “He loves car rides, food, all other animals so far, any kind of toy, and snuggling.”

“He sleeps in bed with me every night and snores like a grown man,” she added. “He’s also the gassiest dog I’ve ever had, but he has the sweetest soul and is truly the most loving dog I’ve ever met. We are so thankful for him.”

In just a few months, Goulash’s skin healed, and his fur grew back. Finally, his sweet personality matched his handsome new exterior.

“It’s always wild to see the before photo and then the later ones,” Steffen said. “They change so dramatically, their darkness lifts, and they turn into these bright, happy dogs once they heal. Goulash deserves this kind of love, and so does every dog with mange.”

His Happily Ever After

When it was time for Goulash to find a forever family, his foster mom decided he was already home.

“His future now is full of love, happy play, kids to follow, and a family to call his own,” Steffen shared. “His foster family recently adopted him. They fell madly in love with him, and Goulash is now living his happily ever after.”