When LaChrystal Ricke, founder of Reggie’s Friends in Houston, Texas, saw a photo of a skinny dog curled up on a filthy armchair outside a gas station, she knew she had to help him.
“It wasn’t a safe place,” Ricke said. “I wanted to pick him up right away.”
By the time she arrived, the dog was nowhere to be found. So she asked for help on Facebook, and the next morning volunteers went searching.
As they knocked on doors, a friendly stray dog — later named Tessa — appeared and guided them to a trash-strewn shack. There, lying on a broken seat, was the dog from the photo.
They named him Aniken.
At first glance, Ricke thought Aniken was simply malnourished. But once she brought him home, the truth came out.
His body was covered in ticks, and his skin was riddled with deep, infected wounds. He was rushed to BluePearl Emergency Pet Hospital, where veterinarians made a chilling discovery.
“This is one of the worst cases I’ve ever seen,” the vet told her. They suspected Aniken had been used as a bait dog in dogfighting.
Ricke hesitated to believe it — until she saw the evidence. All of Aniken’s teeth had been pulled or filed down so he couldn’t defend himself.
His scars and crudely sewn wounds told the rest of the story. “There’s no other explanation,” Ricke said. “This was his life. And it was never meant to last.”
During his stay at the hospital, Aniken captured the hearts of the staff. One critical care nurse wanted to do something special for him. On her lunch break, she bought him a stuffed elephant — his very first toy.
“At first he didn’t know what it was,” Ricke said. “But then he started to warm up to it. He definitely found comfort in it. I’d bet it was the first toy he ever had.”
The gesture marked the beginning of a new chapter. Once stable, Aniken moved to a foster home where he continues to recover.
“He’s reserved,” Ricke said. “It will take time for him to realize he’s safe — that there will always be food, blankets, and people who love him. The abuse he endured wasn’t just physical; it was mental and emotional too.”
Even so, Aniken is already making progress. He’s gaining weight, learning to trust, and enjoying life with his foster family — including snuggles on the couch with his foster dad and the companionship of two other dogs.
After everything he’s survived, Aniken is finally discovering what it feels like to be safe, loved, and cherished — with his stuffed elephant always by his side.
To help Aniken make a full recovery, you can make a donation to Reggie’s Friends.
