When Violet, a goldendoodle, arrived at Sky Sanctuary Rescue, she was almost unrecognizable. Years of neglect had left her covered in thick, tangled mats of fur — and what lay beneath was even more heartbreaking.
As rescuers carefully began shaving off the pounds of matted hair, they uncovered the devastating truth: Violet was severely emaciated. Despite being a full-sized dog, she weighed just 12 pounds. Her body was fragile, her spirit flickering.
“She is so depleted,” the rescue shared on Instagram. “A full-sized goldendoodle weighing only 12 pounds — it was clear she had endured long-term abuse and neglect.”
Violet was rushed into intensive medical care. She needed a blood transfusion, a feeding tube, and round-the-clock support just to stabilize. But even in those first fragile days, there were glimmers of life returning.
“We began to see the light come back into her,” the rescue team wrote.
Her road to recovery was uncertain, but Violet’s quiet strength soon began to shine. Just days after receiving life-saving care, she stood up on her own.
A few days later, she took her very first walk.
Then came something even more joyful — her first time playing with a toy.
“As her strength returns, so does her spirit,” Sky Sanctuary Rescue wrote. “Her personality is emerging more each day.”
In just a few weeks, Violet gained 7 healthy pounds. She's not just recovering — she's blossoming. What once was a dog barely clinging to life is now a resilient, gentle soul learning how to be a dog again.
Her story has captured the hearts of thousands online.
One comment read, “My favorite thing about her is that she didn’t let life break her spirit.”
Though Violet still has a journey ahead, she’s finally safe. Each day, she’s surrounded by love, good food, and the care she deserves.
“I’m so proud, so grateful, and so amazed that we get to be part of her healing,” Sky Sanctuary wrote.
To help Violet and animals like her, you can make a donation to Sky Sanctuary Rescue here.
