Yesenia Pacheco Morales lives in Patillas, Puerto Rico, where she dedicates her days to feeding and caring for stray dogs alongside a small group of volunteers. Every day, they follow the same routes, making sure the dogs who rely on them never go hungry.
One sweet, gentle pup named Chantal was always there, tail wagging, ready for mealtime. So when Chantal suddenly stopped showing up, Morales knew something was wrong.
Days later, her fears became reality.
Chantal reappeared trembling — her white-and-brown fur completely coated in bright, multicolored paint. One look at her terrified expression made it clear this wasn’t an accident.
“Seeing her like that hit me all at once,” Morales told The Dodo. “I felt sadness, anger, disappointment and despair. I just started crying and asking myself how someone could do this.”
The paint wasn’t cosmetic or pet-safe. In a Facebook post, Morales explained that an art professor confirmed the substance wasn’t meant for hair or fur. When Morales spoke with local media, she described the paint as sticky and hardened, matting Chantal’s coat and causing obvious discomfort.
Morales feared the substance was toxic.
Volunteers rushed into action. Chantal was given antibiotics and antihistamines to prevent infection and relieve the intense itching and inflammation. They gently applied moisturizer to soothe her skin and monitored her closely.
Rather than sending her back to the streets, one volunteer opened their home to Chantal, giving her a safe place to rest and recover. Surrounded by patience and kindness, Chantal slowly began to heal — both physically and emotionally.
Little by little, the frightened dog transformed back into the joyful pup Morales remembered.
“She became the happy, loving dog she once was,” Morales said.
Chantal rediscovered her confidence, spending her days exploring, playing with other dogs and soaking up affection from her foster family.
And then came the best news of all.
This past week, a family in Pennsylvania officially adopted Chantal after seeing her story online.
“From the very first day they saw her post, they knew they wanted her,” Morales said.
The family is also adopting another dog from Puerto Rico, ensuring Chantal won’t be alone as she starts her new life. She’s finally leaving her painful, colorful past behind — and stepping into a future filled with safety, love and hope.
