The scene on the streets of many cities across the world is heartbreaking – stray dogs rummaging through trash, desperately seeking scraps to fill their empty bellies. As difficult as their daily search for food may be, these poor creatures face even greater challenges just trying to survive.
One such dog had clearly fallen on hard times. His rib cage protruded sharply from his sagging torso, evidence of severe malnourishment. His coat, once likely sleek and shiny, was now matted and dull. Patches of fur were missing entirely, ravaged by fungal infections that had taken hold in the moist folds of his skin. He scratched incessantly, trying to find relief from the incessant itching and burning.
With no owner to look after him, he aimlessly wandered the streets at night, too weak and timid to compete with the other strays. His sad eyes pleaded for compassion as he limped along on sore, cracked paws. Too sick and feeble to hunt for scraps, he was forced to wait until the other dogs had moved on before scavenging what little was left behind.
As he devoured rotten, moldy food from overturned trash bins, his body tried to reject it. But with no other options, he choked it down out of pure necessity. Anything to try to satiate the hunger pangs and give him the energy to survive another day.
It was heartbreaking to witness such suffering. He was alone, scared and desperate. A creature deserving of love and affection, reduced to fighting for survival amongst garbage. All he longed for was a helping hand – someone to show him kindness, give him a warm meal and a soft bed – a reprieve from the daily torment of his tragic existence on the streets.
