Every puppy deserves to have humans who cherish them and do everything they can to ensure their happiness.

Sadly, many dogs suffer at the hands of those who promise to love and care for them forever.

Lotte, a five-month-old puppy, found her heart weighed down by sorrow. Instead of enjoying a joyful life filled with playful moments and tail wags, she endured pain and neglect.

Even after being mistreated by her cruel owners, Lotte remained committed to her belief in human kindness. She began searching for someone to help her.

Weak and emaciated, with barely enough strength to stand, Lotte dragged herself across the ground and collapsed on a woman’s porch in Texas.

A Kind Soul Comes to Lotte’s Aid

When the kind woman first saw Lotte, the puppy, her heart sank. The poor pup was emaciated and suffering from a severe case of mange. Despite her condition, Lotte’s spirit seemed to hang on, but she refused to eat when offered food.

Worried for Lotte’s well-being, the woman gently took her to Austin Pets Alive, an animal shelter known for its compassion.

Arriving at the shelter early that morning, the woman met Rene, a volunteer. She pleaded with him to help the fragile puppy, and Rene, struck by the sight of her suffering, couldn’t refuse.

“Starved. Covered in mange. And marks around her mouth that look hauntingly like it had been taped shut or potentially muzzled for an excessive amount of time,” the shelter later shared in a Facebook post.

Even though Austin Pets Alive typically doesn’t take in new animals, the woman insists that they care for Lotte.

Rene, deeply moved, extended his hand to the exhausted puppy. In that moment, Lotte seemed to sense that she was no longer alone—her trust in him shone through as she melted with gratitude.

Lotte’s Heart Overflows with Gratitude

The kind man gently placed Lotte in a kennel, ensuring her safety and comfort. He knew he needed to speak with the shelter staff to find out how they could best help her.

When the staff saw Lotte for the first time, their hearts broke. They didn’t yet know her full story, but the severity of her condition was undeniable.

“It’s difficult to know everything about her past, but we believe—given how long it takes for mange to worsen, for emaciation to set in, and for a pup to refuse food—that she had suffered neglect or abuse,” said Luis Sanchez, the director of public relations at Austin Pets Alive, in an interview with Newsweek.

The staff believes that Lotte must have ended up on a stranger’s porch after managing to escape the cruelty of her previous owners.

The medical team wasted no time in giving Lotte the urgent care she needed. They started treating her skin, showering her with the gentle care she had long been denied.

Lotte’s caregivers did everything they could to lift her spirits and help her move past the pain she had suffered.

A New Start

Even after everything Lotte had endured at the hands of her abusers, she won the hearts of the staff with her gentle nature.

She gazed up at them with eyes full of love, her heart swelling with gratitude for the kindness they had shown her.

Lotte is now recovering well and has found a new home where she will have an amazing new life ahead.

Her new foster-to-adopter family is dedicated to giving her all the love and care she deserves.

However, her previous shelter is still home to many other dogs that are waiting for adoption. Each one has their own story and is in need of a loving family. You can find out more about these wonderful dogs and how to help them find their forever homes HERE.