“She is unrecognizable!”
A Lone Pup in Need
Last month, a concerned group of neighbors in Missouri noticed a small puppy with patchy, irritated skin wandering the streets alone. At first, they offered food and water, hoping her family would come for her. But as days passed and her condition worsened, they realized no one was coming to save her.
Unsure of what to do, they contacted Stray Rescue of St. Louis (SRSL), who quickly responded to the call.
A Heartbreaking Discovery
When the SRSL team arrived, they found the mange-ridden puppy, later named Devonna, on someone’s property. As they carefully scooped her up, two more nearly hairless pups popped their heads up from an abandoned outdoor pool nearby.
“They popped up like, ‘WAIT! What about us?’” SRSL shared.
Unable to leave the other two behind, the team rescued all three, naming them Portia and Rowland. Devonna, however, was in the worst condition—her skin was so inflamed that she struggled to rest during the ride to the shelter.
The Long Road to Recovery
At SRSL’s clinic, veterinarians diagnosed all three pups with demodex mange, a non-contagious skin condition. Sadly, Devonna’s case was the most advanced, meaning she faced a longer healing journey.
“She kept drifting off to sleep but would never let herself get comfortable,” the team wrote. “But we knew today was the first day of the rest of her life.”
After a week of medicated baths and round-the-clock care, Devonna was finally well enough to move into a medical foster home—a quiet, loving environment where she could continue healing.
An Unbelievable Transformation
On February 16, Devonna met her foster mom and began the next phase of her recovery. With love, patience, and consistent treatment, the team hoped her fur would grow back beautifully, just like Portia’s and Rowland’s.
A month later, Devonna returned to the SRSL clinic for a check-up—and stunned the staff with her transformation.
“She is unrecognizable!” they shared. “Look at her beautiful coloring! Her white toes, her brindle face … those bright eyes! This is an emotional moment.”
A Future Filled with Love
Now, just a little over a month since her rescue, Devonna is healthy, happy, and ready for adoption.
“She would be successful in most homes, as she is so kind and gentle,” said Natalie Thomson, SRSL’s chief communications officer. “She loves other animals and all people.”
Though Devonna’s past is a mystery, her bright future is clear: soon, she’ll have the loving family she always deserved.