A few years ago, while walking through the streets of Bali, Charlotte Hailey — a volunteer with Mission Paws’ible dog rescue — spotted a stray dog whose condition stopped her in her tracks.
The small dog’s skin was covered in raw, splotchy red sores and open wounds. Each step seemed uncomfortable, and it was clear she had been suffering for a long time.
“The moment I saw her, I was just shocked at how bad her skin was,” Hailey told The Dodo.
Despite her obvious pain, the dog’s reaction to Hailey was unexpected — and heartwarming. She trotted right up to her, gently took a treat from her hand, and wagged her tail as if greeting an old friend.
“You could tell from her tail that she was just the sweetest little dog,” Hailey said.
That trust convinced Hailey the pup had once belonged to someone. She likely had a family who had abandoned her when her skin condition became too severe to ignore.
Hailey desperately wanted to get her to safety, but she hadn’t brought her rescue supplies and didn’t want to risk injuring the pup by trying to carry her without proper equipment. So, with a heavy heart, she left — promising herself she would return as soon as possible.
When she came back, the dog was gone.
Panicked, Hailey asked locals if anyone had seen her. Eventually, a kind man told her he knew the spot where the dog usually slept. Hailey handed him a dog crate and asked him to help capture the pup the next time she appeared.
It didn’t take long. Within days, the man had safely contained the dog, and Hailey transported her to Mission Paws’ible. They named her Delilah.
From the moment she arrived, Delilah charmed every volunteer she met. She wagged her tail constantly, eager for attention and affection, as though she instinctively knew she was finally in safe hands.
With proper medication, medicated baths, and tender care, Delilah’s transformation began. Her wounds slowly closed, her skin softened, and patches of fur started to grow back. Within months, she was almost unrecognizable — the sick, neglected street dog had blossomed into a bright-eyed, healthy pup.
Delilah stayed in foster care until a woman named Amelia met her and fell instantly in love. The feeling was mutual.
“When she came to me, she got out of the car and immediately started wagging her tail,” Amelia said. “To be honest, she was always out of her shell.”
At only 8 months old when rescued, Delilah had already endured months of illness and neglect. But in her forever home, she wasted no time embracing her second chance at life. She ran, played, and soaked in every bit of love she could get.
These days, Delilah’s favorite place in the world is the beach. She loves long walks along the shoreline, splashing in the waves, and chasing after the surf. The dark, lonely days of her past are far behind her — replaced by sunshine, sand, and the joy of being deeply loved.