One puppy has defied all the odds – and continues to grow stronger each day.
Libre was first found emaciated and clinging to life in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, on July 4. He lived on a farm where he was under the “care” of a breeder. Libre ultimately came into the care of Speranza Animal Rescue after the horrifying extent of his condition was uncovered by a woman who saw the pup and sent a photo of him to the rescue group. The breeder surrendered Libre and, from there, the woman was instructed to take Libre to a veterinarian.
Libre, who is a Boston terrier, looked nothing like one. At just 7 weeks old, his skin was plagued with a severe case of demodectic mange – a condition that left him hairless and crusty – along with a slew of secondary infections. There were ulcers in his eyes and, according to the rescue, maggots embedded deep in his flesh. His chances of survival looked slim.
Doctors assumed that the rescue wanted to let Libre go, and said the puppy would need a miracle to recover. The rescue believed in him, however, and stuck with its decision to support Libre, whose name means “free.”
“If he didn’t have the will to live, he would have died a week ago,” the rescue wrote on Facebook. “He deserves a shot at having a life. He deserves that shot at being a normal dog someday.”
Libre managed to survive his first night and was then transferred to the Dillsburg Veterinary Center, which often works with Speranza Animal Rescue, to continue his healing.
Under the care of the veterinary center, Libre’s open wounds and infections were treated with antibiotics. The maggots were flushed out of his skin and he started laser therapy to assist with treating his mange. He even managed to lift his head up and eat his wet food eagerly when hand-fed.
Despite taking steps forward, Libre was far from being out of the woods. His progress was met with worrying setbacks, like fluctuations in his white blood cell count and body temperature, and a refusal to drink on his own. He was depressed and listless, the veterinary center said in its updates.
But Libre refused to give up. He began to not only sit up on his own, but stand on all four feet – for seconds at a time, at first, and then for longer.
As Libre’s story spread through the Internet, an overwhelming outpouring of support followed in the form of donations, care packages, letters, toys, prayers and even a blanket with his name stitched on it.
With so much love and support behind him Libre continued to get better, to the point where he’s now able to walk and loves nothing more than being outdoors, engaging and exploring the world for the first time.