A six-week-old puppy who almost burned alive has miraculously recovered and found a forever home with the woman who saved him.
In December 2020, the tiny stray dog was spotted wandering a deserted dirt track in Mexico, covered in burns.
A stranger picked him up and took him to the closest animal hospital, where vets wrapped him in emergency bandages.
Tracy Lystra, founder of Huey's Second Chance Ranch, saw a photo of the abused pup online and instantly wanted to save him.
She told The Mirror : "We didn't know what the future would hold for him, so we promised to give him a lifetime of love every day."
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Tracy named the pup Kringle - as it was days before Christmas - and transported him to an emergency hospital in California, US.
More than half of his body was covered in burns and his ears were mutilated when he underwent immediately surgery.
Tracy said: "I worried that he might not make it. He went into cardiac arrest on the operating table the first time he was placed under anaesthesia.
"The amazing surgical team revived him by manually pumping his heart."
Kringle spent the next 49 days in hospital, having his ears amputated and eyelids constructed.
He "cried a lot" and struggled to adapt to the bright surroundings and other dogs.
When surgeons removed his burned skin, Kringle had to get used to wearing brightly coloured jumpers and pyjamas.
But that wasn't a problem, because staff were all wearing fancy dress costumes to lift his spirits.
Tracy even sold personalised socks with Kringle's little face on to raise money for his bills.
Tracy said: "I remember the first night he came home. He was only a few months old and fit perfectly in the nook of my neck."
Many people wanted to adopt Kringle after seeing his story online, so Tracy began sorting through potential adoptees.
"I only intended to temporarily foster him while he recovered," she said.
"But shortly after interviewing a few families, I realised that it would be impossible for me to part with Kringle."
Kringle and Tracy has bonded immensely and she didn't think he would cope well with the separation.
So on April 20, 2021, Tracy made the decision to adopt Kringle herself and he found his forever home in her arms.
Now, Kringle has made friends with his adoptive siblings and enjoys cuddling, playing with toys and exploring.
"Because his injuries occurred at such a young age, I would like to believe that he's been able to forget most of his horrific experiences," she said.
Physically, Kringle is very different to other dogs and requires a lot of care. He cannot be out in the sun without his UV suit or else he burns badly.
He is also prone to ear infections, as the canal is exposed.
"Kringle's skin is extremely thin so we need to monitor his playtime. He normally wears a shirt or sweater that covers his burn areas, which helps protect his skin," Tracy said.
Tracy describes Kringle as her fourth child, and says he "means the world" to her.
She added: "When my rescue dog Huey passed away, I didn't think I would ever be able to love a dog as much, but Kringle has worked his way into my heart.
"I like to believe that Huey sent Kringle to the ranch because he knew that I would not only heal him, but I would love him with my entire being."
Do you have a dog story to tell? Contact nia.dalton@reachplc.com.
