From the moment a puppy opens its eyes, the only thing it wants is to feel warmth, security, and love.
That bond of trust is what makes a dog’s heart beat faster, and it’s what allows them to grow into confident, happy companions.
But when that bond is broken, the scars go deep.
A Little Puppy’s Cry For Love
Prince was only a baby when he discovered how cruel the world could be.
At just three months old, the tiny pup had already endured the pain of neglect. Instead of gentle hands and warm laps, he knew only loneliness.
His frail body carried the weight of mange and infections, and when he needed his family the most, they gave up on him.
Instead of care, he was abandoned in a crowded shelter in Fresno, California — the kind of place where frightened animals wait, not knowing if tomorrow will come.
Inside his kennel, Prince curled into himself, aching not only from the illness that marked his skin but also from the betrayal of being unwanted.
He needed someone to look into his eyes and see more than his sickness. He needed a hero who could believe in him when no one else would.
The Foster Mom Who Changed Everything
That hero came in the form of Neda Saghafi, founder of Simba’s Paw Dog Rescue.
One April day in 2018, she saw a post online about a hairless little puppy with eyes so sad they could break anyone’s heart.
Neda felt an instant pull, as if the pup himself was calling out for her. Without hesitation, she decided she would take him in and give him a chance.
When she first laid eyes on him at the shelter, her heart melted. The puppy’s green eyes looked lost and confused, and streaks of strange purple dye ran across his fragile body.
At first, Neda feared he might have been cruelly spray-painted, maybe even used for something unthinkable like dog-fighting bets.
But the vet explained it was likely an outdated farm treatment dabbed onto his skin. Whatever the case, the sight was haunting.
She scooped him into her arms and whispered a new promise into his ears — that he would never feel alone again. She gave him a name fit for royalty: Prince.
At the veterinary clinic, the truth of his suffering became clear. His body was riddled with mange and secondary infections, leaving his skin raw and covered in painful scabs. Touching him was like brushing over rough scales instead of soft fur. Neda had fostered many dogs before, but she admitted that Prince was one of the worst cases she had ever seen.
Still, she wasn’t discouraged. At her home, she began the slow process of healing him. Every bath washed away a little of his pain. Every gentle cuddle stitched trust back into his heart. She nicknamed him “Chicken Nugget,” a sweet joke that softened his dark past.
Day by day, his eyes began to shine again. The purple paint faded as his golden-brown fur slowly grew back. The puppy who once flinched in fear started to wag his tail, and the bond between him and his foster mom deepened. For the first time, Prince felt what it meant to be safe.
Reunited With Family And A New Beginning
Just when things seemed to be settling, another twist in the story brought even more light to Prince’s life. Two months later, another puppy was found near the same area where Prince had been rescued. This pup, a sweet girl named Cleo, was deaf and also suffering from mange. When Neda saw her, she couldn’t help but notice the resemblance. She believed Cleo might be Prince’s sister.
Neda welcomed Cleo into her care, and what happened next was magical. When Prince met her, his joy was undeniable. The two puppies recognized in each other the comfort of family. They became inseparable, running and tumbling together in the yard, leaning on one another for security. Cleo followed Prince everywhere, trusting her brother to guide her through a silent world.
Under Neda’s care, both puppies flourished. Their fur returned, their spirits lifted, and their hearts were filled with the love they had once been denied. But with healing came the next step: finding forever homes.
Neda adored Prince deeply, and part of her longed to keep him forever. Yet she knew her mission was to continue fostering, to keep her door open for the next desperate dog in need. She trusted that Prince and Cleo would find families who would give them the lifelong devotion they deserved.
That trust was rewarded. Both puppies were adopted into wonderful homes where they were cherished beyond measure. Prince’s journey didn’t just stop with adoption — it blossomed into a full life. Today, he thrives in California, sharing glimpses of his new adventures through an Instagram page that celebrates his second chance. He cuddles on soft beds, basks in the sun, and greets each day knowing he is adored.
Cleo, too, found her place in the world, surrounded by people who understand her needs and shower her with kindness. Together, though in separate homes, the siblings carry the bond of survival and the memory of the woman who refused to let them be forgotten.
Prince’s transformation reminds us that even the most broken beginnings can lead to the brightest futures. All it takes is one person willing to see beyond the scars and believe that every dog is worthy of love.