Every day, countless animals suffer at the hands of cruel and heartless individuals. Costelinha, a dog who endured unimaginable abuse, is one such victim. However, despite his harrowing past, Costelinha’s story is one of hope, resilience, and the power of human kindness. This is the tale of his journey to healing and the community that rallied around him to provide a second chance at life.
According to witnesses, Costelinha fell victim to a sadistic act: he was “castrated” with a knife, leaving him in unimaginable pain. Emaciated, with ribs softened by malnutrition, sores in his mouth, and his body infested with worms, Costelinha weighed a mere 7 kg as he fought for survival.
Upon being rescued, Costelinha was immediately taken to a veterinary clinic, where it was discovered that his wound had become infected. Filled with pus and maggots, his condition was dire. Despite his suffering, Costelinha had a strong appetite, which gave his rescuers hope for his recovery.
In addition to his other health issues, Costelinha struggled to urinate, often dribbling instead. To address this problem, he required urethral catheterization to continuously collect urine. His rescuers knew that they needed assistance to provide him with the best possible care, so they reached out to their community for help. Costelinha’s story touched the hearts of many, and support began to pour in for further testing and a urethroplasty.
Determined not to give up, Costelinha began to make progress in his recovery. Over time, he gained weight, growing from 7 kg to 8 kg. His rescuers were overjoyed to see his improvement and continued to support him in his journey to health.
As Costelinha continued to heal, he found a new home at an animal shelter, where he made many friends among the staff and other animals. Despite his painful past, he proved to be a docile and submissive dog, eager to interact with everyone he met.
Given all that he had endured, Costelinha deserved the chance to experience a loving, safe, and nurturing home. His rescuers fervently hoped that he would find an adopter who would provide him with the care and compassion he needed for the remainder of his life.