After about 5 days of being in the sanctuary, Snafu finally began to grow back some fur. When they first rescued him, Jenny said, “He didn’t even look like he had fur or hair.” When they first found him, there were patches of skin that were clearly infected, instead of healthy fur growth.
It was clear that Snafu was making a quick recovery after being given the basic necessities to live.
The Healing Process
After getting the dog cleaned up and back on his feet, he still had some treatment to go through. This is where Jimmy Desmond came in. Jimmy specializes in emerging diseases and the illegal wildlife trade. Therefore, he has studied firsthand the diseases affecting these animals.
Jimmy administered a treatment under the dog’s skin that would be absorbed into the body. This helped heal the infections that spread throughout the pup's body. If they wouldn’t have saved it when they did, these infections would have probably ended the dog’s life.
Snafu Started to Digest Muscle
Because of Snafu’s lack of food, he actually went into starvation mode. His body was not receiving the nutrients it needed to survive, so it started feeding off of his muscle. In order to nourish his body back to health, the Desmonds made sure to give him lots of nutritious food.
Snafu was clearly malnourished. As soon as the food was placed in front of him, he would devour it almost instantly, begging for more. It was clear he was not being fed in the village.
Snafu Began to Look Like a Completely Different Dog
As the days went by, Snafu kept showing clear signs of progress. “Every day we kind of felt like he was getting a little bit better but with most animals that we rescue, there’s a day when they kind of take a turn,” Jenny said. She hoped that day would soon arrive for Snafu.
One thing they knew for sure: Snafu was definitely a different dog after only a few days of being at the rescue sanctuary. He was finally starting to get his confidence back and play like normal dogs. Slowly but surely, he was regaining his health.
Snafu Faces the “Cone of Shame”
Snafu had multiple sores and open wounds that were still infected. So, once he began to regain his energy and playfulness, he was forced to wear the “cone of shame” to ensure he would not lick any wounds on his body.
He wasn’t sure of the cone at first (like most dogs who have to wear it), but it was only to ensure his recovery was on the right track.