The pleading eyes of a little dog said it all: “I’m in pain, and I need help.”
Wandering the streets of Arkansas had ravaged the tiny dog’s body—his fur completely gone, skin inflamed and raw from a severe case of Demodex mange. And yet, incredibly, there was still a flicker of hope in his eyes.
Fortunately, the dog—later named Goulash—crossed paths with someone who was ready to save him.
A new life began with a single photo
Rochelle Steffen, founder of the Missouri-based rescue Mac’s Mission, saw a photo of the pink, hairless, sorrowful-eyed pup on Facebook—and her heart broke.
“Demodex mange makes the skin look like it’s melting,” said Steffen. “It causes fur loss, lesions, bleeding… a clear sign of long-term neglect. But even through the pain, Goulash wagged his tail. He was fading—but he never gave up.”
Goulash’s journey to healing
At Mac’s Mission, Goulash received soothing medicated baths daily, along with treatment to eliminate the mites. Slowly, his skin began to heal.
“We have an amazing volunteer team experienced with severe mange cases,” Steffen said. “We’ve been rescuing dogs like this since 2009—and they always have the most miraculous recoveries.”
And then—he found love
During his recovery, one of the volunteers fell in love with Goulash. She decided to bring him home. For the first time in his life, he had a warm bed, real meals, a loving name—and a family.
“He’s always by my side,” she said. “He loves car rides, all foods, all animals, all toys… and he absolutely loves cuddling.”
“He sleeps with me every night—and snores like a little old man,” she laughed. “He’s also the gassiest dog I’ve ever owned. But he has the sweetest soul in the world.”
A 171-day miracle
Just a few months later, Goulash’s skin had fully healed, his fur grew back thick and healthy—and inside was a joyful, vibrant pup.
“Looking at the before-and-after photos is surreal,” said Steffen. “The darkness in his eyes is gone. Now, there’s light. There’s a smile.”
The perfect ending
When it came time to find Goulash a forever home, his foster mom simply smiled and said:
“He’s already home.”
Goulash was officially adopted by the family that had nursed him back to life—ending his survival story with everything he’d ever wanted:
Love. Play. Warm arms. And children to grow up with.
“Now, Goulash’s future is full of love. Laughter. And a forever home,” Steffen said emotionally.