You’ll never believe what he looks like now …
When teacher Aaron Tanguma got a message from a coworker about a strange, hairless dog hiding in the outdoor bathroom at their Texas high school, curiosity and concern pulled him outside. What he discovered broke his heart: a frail, mange-ridden pup who seemed to be waiting for someone — anyone — to help.
The dog, later named Apollo, was little more than skin and bone. Tanguma offered him food, which the desperate animal gratefully accepted. By the end of the day, Tanguma had brought Apollo home.
At first, he and his fiancée, Renee Gonzales, kept Apollo outdoors. With four rescue cats inside, they feared exposing them to his condition. They also hesitated to bring him to a vet right away, worried his poor health might lead to a grim decision. Instead, they carefully began treating his mange on their own.
“It took about three months for his skin to completely heal, and another three to four months before his coat grew back,” Gonzales explained. “We rescued him in May 2024, and by February 2025, he was finally able to live indoors with us.”
During recovery, Apollo spent most of his time sleeping, withdrawn and subdued. But as his health improved, so did his spirit.
“His personality has completely changed,” Gonzales said. “Now he’s always smiling and excited to see us.”
When they first found him, Apollo was nearly unrecognizable as a dog. His rescuers couldn’t have predicted the transformation — a once hairless, hopeless pup now turned into a fluffy, joyful companion.
“People love his story,” Gonzales added. “They’ve said it’s the best transformation they’ve ever seen.”
From being on the brink of giving up to thriving in a loving home, Apollo’s journey proves just how much hope can bloom when someone chooses to give an animal a second chance.