In a quiet Romanian village last August, rescuer Georgiana Neagu came across a puppy whose condition stopped her in her tracks. The pup—later named Nala—was covered in flies, stripped bare of fur by a devastating skin condition, and barely able to walk. Her tiny body was shutting down. But her eyes said everything: please don’t leave me like this.
Though Nala technically had a home, her “owners” didn’t know how to care for her. What should have been a safe place became a slow descent into neglect. At first, Neagu tried to help from a distance, offering regular treatments through Saving Orphaned Souls Sheila’s Animal Rescue Mission (SOS ARMS). But Nala wasn’t getting better—she was slipping away.
“She Was Fading—And I Couldn’t Watch Her Die”
“She could barely walk due to a serious calcium deficiency,” Neagu later wrote. “Her skin was in terrible shape. And emotionally, she was fading. I couldn’t watch her suffer any longer—I had to take her in.”
After pleading with Nala’s owners, they finally agreed to surrender her. Neagu rushed the pup to SOS ARMS headquarters, where a vet team and pack of rescued dogs waited to embrace her into their fold. That moment marked the beginning of a long, painful—but determined—road to recovery.
The Road to Recovery: Trust, Treatment, and Transformation
Nala’s journey back to health was neither fast nor easy. Her body was brittle from malnutrition. Her skin was raw. Her spirit was bruised.
But slowly, with relentless care and unwavering love, Nala began to heal.
“Her healing journey was long,” Neagu said. “Months of treatments for her skin, bones, and overall health. But she never gave up.”
Her fur began to regrow—everywhere except her head, which left a striking visual. For weeks, she looked like a little lion cub, her bald head surrounded by fluffy fur around her neck. But this ‘mane’ didn’t mask her growing confidence or the soft sweetness behind her eyes.
From ‘Lion’ to ‘Teddy Bear’
Eventually, even her head began to regrow its coat, and the transformation was complete. The once hairless pup now looked like a walking teddy bear. Nala was no longer a symbol of suffering—she had become the embodiment of hope.
“Today, she’s thriving,” Neagu wrote. “Still young, still growing—but already filled with love. She’s calm, sweet, and absolutely stunning.”
Now a large, fluffy companion with nothing but love to give, Nala is living proof that neglect does not have to define a life. But her journey is not over.
Still Waiting for Her Happy Ending
Despite everything she’s been through, Nala remains pure sweetness wrapped in a growing cloud of fur. Her transformation is breathtaking—but her journey isn’t over yet.
Because of her size, she’s often overlooked by potential adopters. People see a big dog and hesitate, missing the gentle, loyal heart beating underneath. But Georgiana Neagu, who’s stood by Nala every step of the way, knows the truth.
“She’s nothing but kindness and heart,” Neagu says.
Now, Nala needs one final miracle:
- A forever home with someone who will love her not just for how far she’s come, but for who she is today.
- Or a sponsor to support her care as she continues to grow stronger while waiting for her perfect match.
If you believe in second chances—and in the resilience of animals who never give up—now is the moment to act.
Please don’t let Nala’s story end at almost. She’s come too far, fought too hard, and given too much love to be overlooked again.
Whether you open your heart and home, help cover the costs of her ongoing care, or simply share her story with someone who might—you can be the reason she finally gets the ending she deserves.
To adopt or sponsor Nala, please send a private message to Georgiana Neagu.
Your compassion could be the final piece of Nala’s journey from survival to a life filled with love.
