A dog who suffered extreme abuse that saw him kept on a chain has made a miraculous transformation after being adopted.
Henry the Chihuahua cross was one of seven dogs found in shocking conditions by animal charity People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).
Heartbreaking footage released by the charity shows Henry looking like a "little skeleton" inside a doghouse in North Carolina, US, without any food or water, "being eaten alive by flies".
Henry's canine companion, a black pit bull named Minnie, sadly died of "starvation and extreme neglect" beside him, with her "skeletal remains" still chained up.
Owner Cherelle M.Askew was charged with seven counts of cruelty to animals after the Bertie County Sherriff's Office rescued the dogs.
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A statement by PETA reads: "The seven dogs on that property were consistently malnourished and neglected, even though PETA's fieldworkers had provided them with free food, doghouses, spay/neuter services, and other essential care."
Eight-year-old Henry was treated for heartworms, a serious disease that results in severe lung disease, heart failure and death in pets.
Thankfully, he was adopted by Doreen Dykes in Virginia after just two days.
Doreen is a lifelong animal defender and she cared for many animals with her late husband Jim, but since his passing, she had been alone.
Little dog Henry's adoption marked the first time she'd taken on a companion of her own.
She was visiting PETA's headquarters on the day fieldworkers rescued Henry, and when she saw him, it was love at first sight.
Doreen said: "He has these beautiful dark eyes. They're the softest, brownest, most beautiful eyes I've ever looked into."
Henry is now virtually unrecognisable and lives "safe and comfortably" with Doreen, where the pair enjoy walks together and time in their sun-soaked flower garden.
PETA recently showed Doreen a clip of Henry's appalling living conditions for the first time - and her reaction was harrowing.
"Oh how awful. I had no idea it was as bad as this. So he was almost a little skeleton. How terrible," she said.
Daphna Nachminovitch, PETA's senior vice president of cruelty investigations, comments: "PETA rescued Henry in the nick of time, but countless other dogs like him are suffering out of sight, chained in backyards this burning-hot summer.
"PETA encourages everyone to keep their dogs indoors with the rest of the family, remind others to do the same, and always come to the aid of animals in need like Henry."
Have you rescued a dog from a near-death experience? Email nia.dalton@reachplc.com.
