One day, she had a home. The next, she was alone — left to wander the streets of Phuket, Thailand, with no food, no shelter, and no one to care for her.
The 1-year-old husky’s owner had simply abandoned her.
When a local resident spotted the frightened dog roaming their neighborhood, they called Soi Dog Foundation, a rescue group that helps neglected and abandoned animals throughout Thailand.
Sadly, the call was all too familiar.
“In Thai society, a lot of importance is placed on appearance, and huskies, with their blue eyes, are very popular,” said Maeve Henry, a spokesperson for Soi Dog Foundation. “But many people don’t realize the amount of care, exercise, and commitment these dogs need. When they grow up and become harder to manage, they’re often abandoned.”
Rescuers named the young husky Nessie. When they found her, she was in heartbreaking shape — weak from anemia, her eyes crusted, her legs covered in wounds. Her fur was patchy from both demodectic and sarcoptic mange, signs of long-term neglect.
“She had clearly been neglected for a long time by her former owner,” Henry said.
Yet, despite everything, Nessie’s spirit shone through.
“Rescuers couldn’t believe how friendly and affectionate she was,” Henry said. “She just wanted to kiss them and be close. It was heartbreaking — she’d been treated so cruelly, and still, all she wanted was love.”
Once at the shelter, Nessie began receiving the medical care she desperately needed. Within two weeks, her eyes were brighter. Within two months, her fur had started to grow back, and her energy had returned.
But her transformation wasn’t just physical — it was emotional, too.
“Only a few days after arriving, she started smiling,” Henry said. “She knew she was safe. She realized she was being helped.”
By April, Nessie’s journey took another joyful turn. She boarded a flight to the United States, where she entered foster care with The Devoted Barn, a rescue group that partners with Soi Dog Foundation.
There, she got a new name — Matsi — and a second chance at life.
Matsi is now healthy, happy, and full of life. She’s waiting for the right forever home — one that understands the boundless energy and intelligence huskies are known for.
Both in Thailand and the U.S., huskies are often abandoned by owners unprepared for their needs — a problem that’s grown worse since the popularity of Game of Thrones and its wolf-like dogs.
But Matsi’s future looks bright.
“It’s wonderful seeing her happy and wagging her tail,” Henry said. “She was loving from the start, and from what I see in her foster videos — that hasn’t changed.”
If you’re interested in adopting Matsi, reach out to The Devoted Barn.
To help more dogs like her, you can donate to Soi Dog Foundation.
