See Transformation of Rescue Dog From the Day She Arrived to 6 Months Later

Once neglected and left to fend for herself, rescue dog Shiva has undergone a remarkable transformation after just six months in her forever home.

In a video shared by owner Diane the difference between Shiva on her first day in foster care and today is clear.

Once gently coming towards humans for a treat, with shaved fur in places where wounds were still healing from her ordeal, today she is a fluffy, happy girl that is all about tail wagging.

"She is such a great and sweet dog and I think sharing her story will urge more people to rescue," Diane told Newsweek.

Shiva was rescued from the South Dakota Indian Reservation areas by two rescue organizations—Lightshine Canine: A Rez Dog Rescue and Emotional Rescue LLC. Before her rescue, Shiva had a tough life; she was left chained outside 24/7, resulting in a lack of fur on her back from the chain rubbing against her neck. She also had a broken leg that was left to heal alone.

Thankfully after a heartbreaking start to life, she was rescued, but she was in rough shape—emaciated, with a blood clot in one eye, and having difficulty walking.

Today, she lives with Diane and her husband in Minnesota, where she is given all of the love and creature comforts she deserves.

"She had a terrible start to her life, but I'm glad she was rescued in time. Now she is the queen of our house," Diane said.

Each year 6.3 million pets enter U.S. shelters, which is an average of 17,260 a day, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The number of dogs and cats taken in by pet shelters hit 46,807 during January 2023, an increase of 1,744 compared with January 2022, the 24Pet "Shelter Watch Report" found.

Around 920,000 surrendered animals are euthanized every year. Shelters are striving to minimize euthanasia rates by promoting adoption campaigns, spaying and neutering programs, and behavior rehabilitation.

"She is nothing but love. She also is very athletic despite her previous broken leg, she even jumps over our couch sometimes," Diane said. "She really is a great addition to our family."

The footage quickly gained attention online, with more than 6,000 upvotes and hundreds of comments. Underneath the video, people shared their reactions to Shiva's amazing transformation.

One user wrote: "They grow up so fast," emphasizing the rapid positive changes in Shiva's life. Another commenter shared, "It makes my heart smile," reflecting the joy and warmth Shiva's transformation brought to viewers.

"Oh wow, what a transformation, this made me cry a little bit, beautiful," said another commenter.

The outpouring of love was driven by people praising the power of love and care to transform animals who have seen even the worst things.

"She is seriously the sweetest girl in spite of what happened to her," the owner said. "All she wants is to cuddle with you, she will literally get on top of me when I am on the couch. She's always next to me too, protecting me. She's such a great dog."

Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.