“She’s a survivor with a heart of gold.” 💛

Last August, Romanian animal rescuer Georgiana Neagu met a puppy she would never forget. The little dog, later named Nala, had a one-of-a-kind look—and a heartbreaking past.

Though Nala technically had a home, her owners didn’t know how to properly care for her. When Neagu found her, Nala was covered in flies, suffering from a severe skin condition that left her completely bald. Her body was weak, her spirit fading—but her eyes still begged for help.

At first, Nala’s owners refused to give her up. So Neagu, working through her organization Saving Orphaned Souls Sheila’s Animal Rescue Mission (SOS ARMS), began visiting regularly to provide treatment. But despite her best efforts, Nala was only getting worse.

“She could barely walk because of a serious calcium deficiency,” Neagu shared on Facebook. “Her skin was in terrible shape, and emotionally, she was shutting down. I couldn’t watch her suffer any longer—I had to bring her in.”

Eventually, her owners agreed. Neagu rushed Nala to the SOS ARMS rescue center, where a team of dedicated vets—and a pack of friendly rescue dogs—welcomed her with open arms.

It was the beginning of a long, tough journey.

“Her healing process took months,” Neagu wrote. “We treated her skin, her bones, her overall health. But the most amazing part? She never gave up.”

Despite her condition, Nala always showed love and trust to those around her.

“She was gentle and calm, always looking at me with eyes full of hope—even when her body was giving out,” Neagu said.

Slowly, Nala began to heal. Her fur started growing back, but for a while, her head remained bald, creating the look of a fuzzy lion’s mane. The team lovingly joked about it, but they knew this little lion had a lion’s heart, too.

Eventually, her full coat came in. Now, Nala is a completely different dog—fluffy, strong, and full of life.

“Today, she’s thriving,” Neagu wrote. “She’s turning into a soft, cuddly teddy bear. She’s still young and growing, but her heart is already so full. Sweet, calm, and absolutely beautiful.”

Nala, once nearly hairless and hopeless, is now one of the fluffiest pups at the shelter. She’s left her painful past behind and is focused on the future—making friends and waiting patiently for the loving forever home she deserves.

“She’s nothing but love,” Neagu said. “A true survivor with a heart of gold.”