As much as seeing abandoned dogs who have experienced cruelty and hardships is truly heartbreaking, looking at their transformations once they’ve found new homes brings everyone immense joy.
One of the organizations that help four-legged creatures in need is Bali Paws. They have had hundreds of dogs and cats go through their rescue programs, but even they can get shocked at the horrible sights they run into.
While abused and ill dogs are, sadly, a part of their everyday lives, there were a few rescue stories that stood out from the rest due to the terrible conditions the animals were in.
Such is the case of Lucy Ray.
She Was Starved And Sick
When Bali Paws’ rescuers, Desi and Chantal, got out one day, they had no idea that they would run into one of the worst cases of neglect they had ever seen.
“We were driving along this round, and then, suddenly, my sister saw a dog in front of an empty villa,” Desi said to The Dodo.
What they found was a tiny, starving puppy suffering from such a terrible case of mange that most of her hair had fallen off.
She also had an eye infection, and it was clear no one took care of her for quite some time.
Despite her experience, the girls were mortified when they saw just how terrible her condition was.
They guessed that the poor pup had been used for breeding, and she likely never got out of the tiny cage she was kept in.
Until one day her “owners” decided she was no longer cute and young and decided to dump her on the street.
This was where her horror story began – but Desi and Chantal were there to save the day.
It Was Her Lucky Day
At first, the pooch was so scared it was hard to get her out of the doghouse. Luckily, Desi managed to bait her with some kibble and even give her a few hesitant pets. The sisters knew they had to react fast, as the busy street was close by.
So, they used the opportunity to grab her while blocking the entrance to the doghouse with a helmet.
The moment the pup was in Desi’s hands, she became very calm, as if she knew it was her lucky day and things were about to get better.
The first thing Desi and Chantal did was get Lucy Ray, which is how they’ve named the little pup, to the vet. Fortunately, despite being emaciated and with mange, she was otherwise fine and her bloodwork results were all good.
“She was lucky,” Desi concluded.
She Fit Right In
The girls brought Lucy Ray home, where they had more than a dozen rescue dogs.
At first, this was all a bit too much for poor Lucy, as she wasn’t used to all the attention she was getting.
However, as soon as she realized she was free and could not only play the whole day but also walk on the grass, her cheerful side emerged.
She was suddenly the happiest dog on the premises!
Once abandoned and scared, now all Lucy wanted to do was get more cuddles and spend some time with her human owners.
It took some time before she was completely relaxed around other dogs, but even this fear quickly subsided. She became so friendly, it left everyone surprised.
“It’s so crazy to see how a little amount of effort can actually change the life of this animal!” Desi said with a smile.
A New Life Begins
While Desi and Chantal instantly fell in love with Lucy Ray, they knew they couldn’t keep her. She deserved a true home where she could get all the attention possible.
Fortunately, they quickly found Matt and Brianna, a dog-loving couple from the United States who were more than happy to help Lucy Ray get her green card and move in with them.
“Tomorrow is the day! Our little rescue girl is moving to her new family,” they wrote in an Instagram post.
“Even though we are beyond happy that she is leaving, a part in us is also very sad. She brought so much joy and snuggles into our house and we can’t wait to see her living the best life.”
Lucy quickly forgot all about the Bali streets and started enjoying those silky sheets!
She quickly got a new brother, Eddy, who was also rescued by Bali Paws. He was the victim of a backyard breeder but was lucky enough to stumble at our brave heroes who helped nurse him back to health before Matt and Brianna adopted him.
The two quickly became inseparable.
Then, in February 2022, the duo welcomed their human baby sister. The more the merrier!
Now, Lucy lives just like any other dog, enjoying holidays, long walks on the beach, and, of course, all the cuddles she can get!
“I think after all she’s been through, the fact that she’s so sweet and so loving and trusting of us is just miraculous,” Brianna said.
We salute those brave volunteers without whom warm stories such as this one could not be possible.
And, of course, a huge portion of praise goes to little Lucy Ray, who has allowed herself to trust and love again.
Vanja’s passion for writing started at an early age, which is why she pursued Journalism as her college degree. She can research any topic and find all the information before you bat an eye, which is a great thing for her job but a terrible one for her husband.
Even as a young child, she fell in love with everything fluffy – but dogs have a special place in her heart due to her childhood companion, a Corgie named Archie.
Motivated by her experiences and driven by a desire to give back to her four-legged companions, she spends her free time volunteering at a local dog shelter.