
When a scabby, pink-skinned puppy stumbled into the Kentucky Humane Society this past April, staff couldn’t quite tell what kind of animal had arrived. Just three months old, hairless, and heartbreakingly thin, he looked more like a tiny piglet than a puppy.
But behind his raw skin and fearful eyes, the team saw something else — a flicker of hope.

They named him Wilbur, after the lovable pig in Charlotte’s Web, and vowed to give him the care and compassion he had always deserved.
Wilbur was suffering from a severe case of demodectic mange, a painful skin condition caused by mites, and giardia, an intestinal parasite that left him dehydrated and weak. He had no fur, open sores, and couldn’t be around other dogs due to the risk of spreading infection.
“Wilbur was quite shy when he first arrived,” said Jen Harris, PR coordinator at the shelter. “Every touch or movement caused him pain.”

But the healing began the moment he arrived.
The veterinary team moved quickly — easing his pain with medication, bathing him in medicated water, treating his infections, and wrapping him in cozy sweaters to soothe his tender skin. Slowly but surely, Wilbur began to respond — not just physically, but emotionally.
“He remained gentle, as if he knew we were helping,” the shelter wrote on social media.
Soon, the scabby little pup began to enjoy his warm baths and daily lotion rubdowns. A fine layer of fur began to grow, and the once-timid dog started leaning in for affection.
His transformation truly took off when he joined a foster family. There, Wilbur’s personality bloomed. He played outside with other dogs, rolled in the grass, and embraced the joy of simply being a puppy.

“He gained confidence almost overnight,” said Harris. “He became happy and playful — a totally different dog.”
And on May 20, Wilbur found his forever family. Drawn to his story online, they knew he belonged with them the moment they met him.

“As soon as we saw him, we knew he was ours,” they said. “Now, he fits in perfectly.”
In just a few weeks, Wilbur went from a forgotten street pup to a healthy, tail-wagging, bright-eyed member of a loving family.

“Just like the Wilbur in the book,” Harris said, “our Wilbur triumphed — and became a truly radiant puppy.”
His story is a testament to the power of love, patience, and second chances — and to the lifesaving work of the Kentucky Humane Society.
