Kobe was discovered abandoned with his siblings, left helplessly in a pile of trash. Tales of Hope Dog Rescue received a call to bring in the puppy who needed the most immediate care — and that turned out to be Kobe. Upon his arrival, his medical foster family was heartbroken by his condition. Kobe’s tiny body was covered in painful scabs and open sores, and he had lost nearly all of his fur. It was clear that he had been through unimaginable hardship, and seeing him so fragile moved his rescuers deeply.
For the first two weeks, Kobe slept deeply, trying to recover. He was severely undernourished, so his foster parents took turns warming him, snuggling him, and keeping him safe. Gradually, they began to see glimpses of his personality emerge. Despite everything, Kobe was a fighter, and with every passing day, he showed more spark.
About a month into his recovery, Kobe’s skin had healed enough for him to finally meet other dogs. But soon after, he faced another challenge: he developed a severe case of rickets. One Saturday morning, his foster parents noticed his legs bending inward. Alarmed, they took him to an orthopedic specialist, who recommended splinting his legs to help them heal. The splints weren’t easy for Kobe — as any young puppy might struggle with such limitations — but he never lost his joy. His little tail wagged constantly, and he charmed everyone with his enduring spirit.
Two months later, Kobe was finally cleared of his splints. Realizing he was free, he took off, running with pure joy. It took him a moment to adjust, but then he began playing like any other puppy.
A man couldn't afford to pay for the surgery his dog desperately needed, so he decided to improvise and do it himself. In a shocking case of animal cruelty, the man admitted to applying tooth-numbing gel to his dog's leg and then amputating it.
The transformation was remarkable. From that first photo, sick and weak, to a healthy, vibrant puppy, it was amazing to see how far Kobe had come. Now, Kobe dreams of a forever home with a yard to run in, other dogs to play with, and maybe even kids he could love. To see Kobe’s journey, click ‘play’ below.
PUPDATE: According to Kobe’s adoption page, he found his forever home! We are over the moon for this deserving pup.
Toledo, United States.
