A puppy who was abandoned on the streets in "immense pain" has fought her battle to survive. Xena the six-month-old stray had a serious infestation of demodex mites - also known as mange - which caused her to lose her fur and have very itchy, inflamed skin.
The young stray dog was taken in by Bristol Animal Rescue Centre and nursed back to health, before finding a loving home. Jodie Hayward, animal home manager, said: "We named her Xena because we knew she'd be strong. She overcame this horrible condition and is now living her best life. We couldn't be happier for her."
Sign up to our TeamDogs newsletter for your weekly dose of dog news, pictures and stories.
Demodex mange is the most common form of mange in dogs and occurs primarily in puppies. When left untreated, it can lead to secondary infections.
Jodie explained: "On arrival it was obvious she was in a lot of pain, and she was frequently itching and licking herself – she just couldn't get any relief."
Xena was given regular medicated baths to soothe her skin condition, and the team worked with her on socialisation skills to get her ready for rehoming.
"Despite her terrible condition on arrival and the immense pain she must have endured, Xena was a strong little pup," Jodie said.
"You would expect after everything she had been through that she may be suspicious of people, but once her condition started to improve, she was a very playful pup and became much loved by the staff and other dogs here."
The Bristol shelter was able to successfully rehome Xena with an adopter who runs a glamping site near Chew Valley.
Now the young and playful pooch has plenty of space to run around and enjoy an active outdoor lifestyle.
A dog who hasn't had quite as much luck as Xena at Bristol Animal Rescue is Banksy the famous painting dog.
Banksy the four-year-old Staffy had a rough start in life, having been passed between a few homes already.
Last year, he raised £500 for the centre by creating paintings with his nose and paws - but unbelievably, despite all the press, he is still there.
He is looking for a consistent and patient forever home, with adopters who are willing to give him the stability that he needs to thrive.
Banksy loves training and is very eager to please, but he can get a bit boisterous and mouthy when he feels unsure.
Do you have a touching dog story to share? Get in touch with nia.dalton@reachplc.com.
