At a crowded municipal shelter in Fresno, California, a frail, three-month-old puppy waited quietly in his kennel. His body was nearly hairless, ravaged by mange and inflamed by painful skin infections. Bright purple streaks covered his dry, scaly skin—an eerie sight that made his story even more mysterious. Whoever once cared for him had abandoned him when he became sick, leaving him to face the world alone.
The shelter was overwhelmed, struggling with limited space and few resources. Dogs with visible health problems rarely found new homes in time. But even in his suffering, the little puppy seemed to hold on to the smallest hope that someone might notice him.
A Lifesaving Decision
That hope arrived when Neda Saghafi, founder of Simba’s Paw Dog Rescue, came across his photo online. His sad green eyes and the strange purple markings stopped her in her tracks.
“When I saw his picture posted on Facebook, my heart just sank,” Saghafi told The Dodo. “I knew I had to rescue this dog.”
When she met him at the shelter, the puppy was timid and unsure, as if he didn’t understand why he had been left behind or why he was in pain. She gently scooped him up and gave him a name that reflected the life he deserved—Prince.
But his condition raised troubling questions. The purple dye that covered his skin made Saghafi fear he had been spray-painted, possibly used as a bait dog—a heartbreaking practice where puppies are marked with colors for betting purposes. After a careful veterinary check, another theory surfaced. The markings might have come from an old antiseptic sometimes used on farm animals, but the random lines and the deliberate cross sprayed on his forehead made the story unsettling. The dye clung to his skin and wouldn’t fully fade until his fur finally grew back.
The Long Road to Healing
Prince’s recovery was slow and painful. His skin was rough and scabbed, and his body was covered in open sores that made him itchy and raw.
“He was one of the worst mange cases I’ve ever taken in, and I’ve taken in a lot of mange puppies,” Saghafi said.
But Prince had finally found someone who wouldn’t give up on him. Through medicated baths, careful treatment, and daily doses of love, he began to heal. Saghafi affectionately called him “Chicken Nugget,” a nickname that perfectly captured his sweet, comforting presence as he slowly began to trust again.
His fur started to grow back in soft patches, and his playful spirit soon followed. He bonded closely with the other dogs in Saghafi’s home, discovering the joy of belonging. He especially loved to curl up in her arms, resting his head on her shoulder and covering her in grateful kisses.
Just as Prince was blossoming, Saghafi received news of another puppy found in the same neighborhood. This little one was also hairless, battling mange, and struggling to survive. She was also deaf. When Saghafi saw her, she felt a deep certainty—they had to be siblings.
She brought the puppy home and named her Cleo. The connection between Prince and Cleo was instant. Wherever Prince went, Cleo eagerly followed. They became inseparable, playing, exploring, and finding comfort in each other’s company.
Finding Forever Homes
As Prince and Cleo regained their health and their fluffy coats, Saghafi began searching for their forever homes. Letting Prince go wouldn’t be easy—he had become one of her most cherished fosters.
“Prince has been one of my favorites,” she admitted. “I kept going back and forth about whether I wanted to keep him.”
But fostering meant continuing to save others, and she knew that sometimes love meant letting go.
Eventually, both Prince and Cleo found perfect, loving families who promised to treasure them always. Prince now thrives in his new home, where he continues to share happy updates through his Instagram page, his once-bare skin now covered in a healthy, shiny coat. Cleo, too, found a family who adores her and gives her the safety she was once denied.
Why Prince’s Story Matters
Prince’s story is a beautiful reminder of what can happen when someone chooses to care. A puppy who was once abandoned, sick, and marked with strange paint now lives a life full of joy, comfort, and love.
Stories like his matter. They show that healing is not just about medicine—it’s about patience, compassion, and the willingness to step forward when no one else will.
