Abandoned Dog Found On The Street Has A Total Transformation When Rescued By Loving Family
Bringing a dog home through adoption can feel like a leap into the unknown. You never really know what challenges or hardships the dog has faced—whether neglect, life on the streets, or experiences that have shaped its behavior.
Shelters work hard to provide support, but sometimes the full story isn't clear. That was the case for Wulfgar, a husky with a complicated and mysterious past. Yet, thanks to the patience, care, and love from the couple who adopted him, Wulfgar underwent an incredible transformation.
Finding A Homeless Dog
In November 2015, a woman and her husband caught wind of a stray husky wandering their neighborhood. Worried about the dog's condition, they set out to find him. When they finally did, it was obvious he was in rough shape and urgently needed care.
The husky was especially shy around the husband. The couple later shared, "As you can see in this photo, he was in pretty terrible condition... His fur was patchy, ribs showing clearly, and he had a large scar running across his side..."
He Was Severely Underweight
The couple decided to adopt the pup and named him Wulfgar. Their first move was to take him to the vet for a thorough check-up and to develop a plan for his recovery.
They explained, "A healthy adult male husky usually weighs between 45 and 60 pounds, depending on their size. But Wulfgar weighed just 39 pounds. The vet estimated his ideal weight should be around 50 to 55 pounds."
His Skin Was A Whole Other Issue
Wulfgar was more than just extremely underweight—his coat had also suffered severe damage from living on the streets. His new owners explained, "He was diagnosed with demodectic mange.
Given that huskies have a thick double coat, the redness, flakiness, and patchiness of his skin showed the condition had been left untreated for a long time. Our poor boy had probably been enduring this for months."
To add to the challenges, his immune system was weakened, so the vet prescribed antibiotics and medicated shampoo. Fortunately, tests showed he was free of heartworms and fleas.
Taking Wulfgar Home
Following a detailed vet check, the couple felt ready to welcome Wulfgar into their home and start helping him settle into his new life. They set up a comfy kennel for him to relax in.
To their surprise, "he walked right in without hesitation, which made us suspect he might have been crate-trained before," they said. Yet, much of his past was still unknown. “He didn't have a microchip—not that we ever planned on giving him up,” they added.
Theories On How He Ended On The Streets
The couple speculated about how Wulfgar came to be living on the streets. They believed he might have escaped from a neglectful or abusive home, which could explain both the scar he bore and his wariness around men.
Settling into his new surroundings was a challenge for Wulfgar. He cried in his kennel during those first few nights, clearly anxious and uncertain. Due to his mange, he wasn't allowed in their bedroom just yet, but the couple stayed close by, providing quiet comfort and reassurance as he slowly started to feel more at ease.
He Was Sleeping Nonstop
During his first few days at his new home, Wulfgar couldn't seem to stop napping. He wasn't just napping in his kennel either, he would nap wherever there was enough room for him to fit.
The couple figured that this was because he was exhausted from his ordeal and could now nap peacefully without fear. "Now, he primarily naps in his kennel or on a fluffy blanket in the living room," the couple wrote.
Warming Up To His Surroundings
Over time, Wulfgar seemed to be getting more and more comfortable in his new home as well as with his new owners. He even began to notice and appreciate the little luxuries that his new life afforded him.
According to the owners, "this is another week later and he's staring at a treat in my hand; sometimes it's the only way to get him to look at the camera."
First Time At The Dog Park
Although the owners were hesitant at first for numerous reasons, they decided to take Wulfgar to the dog park for his first time (under supervision, of course). They were mostly concerned with how he'd react to other dogs after being on the street and hoped he didn't get into any trouble.
In typical husky fashion, he was friendly and playful around the other dogs. This was a huge relief to the owners as well as a sign that everything would turn out okay.
He Even Got Wet!
While at the dog park, the cutest thing happened. Wulfgar fell into the pond and didn't even mind! Luckily, the owner was lucky enough to snap this picture right before he shook off and got her all wet.
This was interesting behavior for a dog that had just been rescued off of the street only a few weeks before. Things were looking up for Wulfgar and the owners were excited to see what he would surprise them with next.
He Was Just Being A Carefree Dog
While still at the dog park, the owner kept taking majestic pictures of Wulfgar to document his amazing recovery. It's beautiful to see a dog that has gone through so much enjoying the life of a healthy and loved pup.
At one point, he may have watched other carefree dogs inside of the dog park but now he was one of them and he couldn't be happier. He was relaxed, safe, and on the road to a full recovery!
Interacting With Other Dogs
The owners commented on this picture of Wulfgar with other dogs, with this to say about his behavior: "He plays well with most other dogs, provided they're also friendly. Since then we've encountered dogs that are aggressive or bark at him.
He's very quiet as far as huskies go, so he never barks back. He mostly stares in confusion." This is incredible considering all of the confrontations or fights that he may have been involved in while he was surviving on the streets. It shows that his spirit wasn't broken.
Not All Dogs Were As Friendly As Wulfgar
Of course, no matter how friendly Wulfgar was towards other dogs, not all dogs wanted to reciprocate the kindness. Every once in a while, Wulfgar would come across a dog that made it clear that they didn't want to be his friend.
In this case, the couple wrote, "this husky-shepherd mix wasn't too friendly, luckily, Wulfgar didn't seem too upset by it!" Surely, Wulfgar had encountered far more intimidating dogs and other animals during his time on the street.
Meeting Other Family Members' Dogs
While Wulfgar may have had a lot of face time with other dogs at the dog park, it was time for him to meet his owner's in-laws' husky. When he did, he still seemed pretty guarded. Notice how sparse his tail still is here.
It was clear that Wulfgar was still traumatized in some ways by his past experiences. Yet, after a little bit of time, Wulfgar made it very apparent that he wanted to become friends with the other husky.
Changing Color
As time passed, Wulfgar's hair began to fill in the patches where his irritated skin had been exposed. As the hair grew in, the owners noticed that his color was beginning to change.
His fur had originally been a distinct red color but was now beginning to change to more of a grey and even appeared dark copper in the sunlight. So now, not just emotionally, but physically, Wulfgar was beginning to look like an entirely different dog.
One Month Later
A little over a month after the couple adopted Wulfgar, he really had changed into an entirely different dog. He was nowhere as shy or skittish as when they had first welcomed him into their home.
They also discovered some of his favorite activities, one of which is riding in the car! By this time, he had also managed to put on some much-needed weight although they still had a way to go in that department.
He Still Loves Napping
While the couple thought that Wulfgar's love for napping was mainly due to exhaustion from his experience of being adopted, they soon learned that was just part of his personality.
The couple wrote that "if there was one thing in the world that Wulfgar loved more than making friends and riding in the car, though, it must have been taking naps!" If dogs feel threatened they never expose their belly, so Wulgar sleeping in this position means that he's happy and at peace.
He's An Observer
As Wulfgar's fur thickened and he slowly gained back his weight, his owners noticed how much he likes to observe other people. They claim that "he loves going into the backyard. He likes to sit and observe the other people in the neighborhood.
When people would walk too close, he'd bark. We liked this protective aspect, though now he's much more discerning of strangers." It's cute to think that Wulfgar is just trying to protect his loving family.
Doing His Own Thing
On this image, the owners commented "I COULD stand like a normal dog but… meh." This is just Wulfgar doing his own thing, whatever makes him comfortable. He may look like a cat, but we all know that he's far from one.
This is just another sign that he is getting along splendidly in his new forever home and feels comfortable enough to do whatever he feels like. Although this may seem like an interesting way for a dog to eat, we've definitely seen weirder.
Still Changing Every Day
With each passing day, Wulfgar gets more and more healthy. Even in this picture, it's obvious just how much he has changed since he was adopted from off the streets. Now, his hair has even begun to turn almost black.
The owner notes that "you can really see how his coat darkened in this picture. I'm hoping this is just a winter coat because I loved his red coloring before." Regardless, they're just happy he's recovering smoothly.
He's A Big Fan Of The Tile Floors
Like many other dogs, Wulfgar loves taking a load off on the cool tile flooring of the house, especially after a long day at the dog park. At times, he can't even keep his eyes open once he lays down on the tile, just like in this picture.
He really must have worked himself out at the dog park this day. Good to know that he's getting the exercise every dog Wulfgar's size needs! This looks like one happy dog!
He Loves Hitting The Road
Not all dogs are as thrilled as Wulfgar to get into the car, but it's one of his favorite things to do. When the car door opens, he hops right in, ready to hit the open road! it doesn't matter where they go, he just enjoys being along for the ride.
Since the owners didn't know anything about his past, it must have been surprising to discover how much he loves riding in cars. Plus, it's something they can treat him to without much effort.
His Favorite Rides Are To The Dog Park
With the dog park being close to the owners' house, they frequent it regularly. On the way there, they make sure to roll down the windows for Wulfgar so he can soak up all of the sights and smells as they head to his favorite place.
The owners love how close they live to do the dog park so they can regularly exercise Wulfgar and give him the social experiences that he needs to thrive as a dog.
He Knows The Route
Believe it or not, Wulfgar even has the route to the dog park memorized. Now that's dedication. According to the owners, "As we get closer he starts whining and hopping around in the back seat out of excitement."
We all know that this behavior isn't common for just Wulfgar, as most dogs lose their minds at the sign of a leash. However, it's evidence that regardless of his unfortunate past, he's just like any other dog today.
Physical Differences
Along with the thickening and color changes of his fur, other differences in his physical appearance include his stature and especially his tail! While it used to be so slender and hairless, it is now perky and full of fur, signs of a healthy, confident dog.
In just the course of a few months, everything from his mannerisms to his appearance have undergone a significant transformation. Neither the owners or the pup could be happier!
Weight Is No Longer An Issue
During the initial stages of Wulfgar's adoption process, the couple had no idea how well he would fit in with the family. Today, their worries can be put to rest as he fits right in.
He's even become comfortable enough to start breaking some of the family rules such as the 'no people food' policy for dogs. We're sure this isn't the first time that Wulfgar has been sticking his nose somewhere that it shouldn't be!
The Husky Stare
These are the eyes of a dog that is thankful for everything that has happened to him since being adopted. If you compare the pictures from when he was first born and today, they look like two entirely different dogs.
Here, he is peaceful and happy when he used to be shy and scared only a few months before. Not only is he a handsome boy, but those eyes are enough to melt any person's heart.
The Final Transformation
On this picture, the owners commented, "my favorite picture of him. He's now a happy, healthy, spoiled dog, and we love him and all the fur he leaves on our clothes." This picture is proof that even the worst-off dogs just need a little love and care to be rehabilitated.
We're so happy that Wulfar went from a suffering dog on the streets to the light of this couple's lives. Now, he lives comfortably and is content -- as every dog should be.
