Under the suffocating shell of hair, they uncovered a body mapped with wounds—and a spirit that refused to break. The collar and leash fused into his skin were carefully cut free, each snip releasing years of silent suffering. Sedated, he surrendered to the hum of clippers, the sting of air on skin, the unfamiliar feeling of being helped instead of harmed. When the last mat dropped, he rose slowly, lighter, blinking as if the world had shifted.

Healing will be slow: blood counts to rebuild, teeth to fix, infections to soothe, nightmares to outgrow. But the first unburdened steps told the truth better than any chart: a tail wagging so hard it shook his whole body, cautious sniffs at open hands, a hesitant lean into a chest offering comfort. In foster care now, he is relearning everything—how to trust, how to play, how it feels when someone finally chooses to stay.