A few years ago, Charlotte Hailey, a volunteer with Mission Paws’ible dog rescue in Bali, was walking through a quiet neighborhood when a stray dog caught her eye.
The poor pup’s skin was covered in angry red sores and open wounds — it was clear she was suffering and needed help fast.
“The moment I saw her, I was just shocked at how bad her skin was,” Hailey told The Dodo.
Despite her pain, the dog wagged her tail and walked right up to Hailey, gently taking a treat from her hand.
“You could tell from her tail that she was just the sweetest little dog,” Hailey said.
Her trust made Hailey believe that she must have once belonged to a family — one that likely abandoned her when she became sick.
As much as Hailey wanted to scoop her up right then, she didn’t have any rescue gear with her and didn’t want to cause the dog more pain. So she made a promise to come back and help her as soon as possible.
But when Hailey returned, the dog was gone.
Heartbroken, she searched everywhere and asked the locals if they’d seen her. Finally, one kind man said he knew where the dog usually slept. Hailey gave him a dog crate and asked him to help catch her the next time she showed up.
Soon enough, the man succeeded — and the frightened dog was safely trapped.
Hailey brought her to Mission Paws’ible, where rescuers named her Delilah.
At the rescue, Delilah quickly won everyone’s hearts. Her tail never stopped wagging, and she seemed grateful for every bit of kindness she received.
With medicine, gentle baths, and lots of love, Delilah’s painful sores began to heal. Her fur grew back soft and white — and within months, she looked like a completely different dog.
After recovering, Delilah went to a foster home until a woman named Amelia met her — and instantly fell in love.
“When she came to me, she got out of the car and immediately started wagging her tail,” Amelia told The Dodo.
“To be honest, she was always out of her shell.”
Delilah had only been eight months old when rescued — still just a baby, who had already endured so much. But now, she could finally be what she was meant to be: a happy, playful puppy.
Her favorite thing these days? Trips to the beach, where she loves long walks and splashing in the surf.
The hard days are long behind her now — replaced with sunshine, soft sand, and endless love.