Hope

This innocent girl was neglected for 34 years. Hope is a 15HH elderly Polish Arabian born on June 10, 1990. This incredible soul has endured more challenges than many of us could fathom, yet her spirit remained unbroken through it all. 

Surrendered to us from an owner, she arrived in a state of profound neglect, her once vibrant spirit subdued by the weight of neglect and adversity. The bitter chill of freezing weather only compounded her struggles as her frail frame battled against the elements. At almost 34 years old, she stood as a testament to resilience and the enduring strength within every living being.

Hope's physical condition was heart-wrenching. At 687.7 pounds, far below the healthy weight for her height, it was evident that she had suffered neglect for far too long. We measured and carefully prepared her meals every four hours, a vital step in the journey to nurse her back to health. We hoped to get her up to 1,100 to 1,200 pounds.

Rain rot, a painful skin condition caused by bacteria thriving in wet conditions, was also taking hold of Hope's coat. Imagine the discomfort she endures daily, yet her gentle demeanor and sweet nature shone through, proving the indomitable strength of her spirit. We began treating her rain rot with Coat Defense powder immediately. 

After 12 days of dedicated feeding and treatment, despite being the worst case we have ever seen, Hope started to gain weight. With each pound, her already beautiful smile shined even brighter. After 25 days, we got hope up over 20 pounds, from 687.7 to 710. With more weight on her bones, her personality started to shine through a bit more. We noticed that she began to be a bit picky with food, and were so heartened! This meant she was out of survival mode, and knew that we would continue feeding her, so she could afford to be picky! 

By day 30, Hope was a full 767.9 pounds! The vets are extremely pleased with her progress, and we are beyond excited to share in this joy with sweet Hope. Now that she is a bit stronger, we can address fixing her feet! While she still has months to go, we are BEYOND happy at the progress she has made in such a short amount of time. This girl’s will to live in unlike any we’ve ever seen before. So here’s to Hope and to our CUDDLY supporters who were there every step of the way. It’s because of you that Hope gets this second chance at life—a beautiful, silly life!