It was an ordinary day when we first encountered her. A dog, lying on the street, her body barely hanging on to life. She was severely malnourished, her ribs showing through her fur, and her eyes empty with hopelessness. She had been starving for so long that her body didn’t even know how to process food anymore. I could hardly believe how cruel people could be, leaving her in such a dire state. No one seemed to care.
I couldn’t leave her like that, so we decided to take action. When we reached her, she was barely clinging to life. It was heart-wrenching. The first night was the hardest for me. Her cries, full of desperation, pierced my heart, and I watched in agony as she vomited, struggling to hold on. Every moment felt like a battle for her survival.
I wanted to give her a name that would give her hope, something that would remind her that she wasn’t alone. And so, I named her Sena, meaning “fighter” in Thai, because that’s what she was—a fighter. I wanted her to know that we would fight alongside her, that she wouldn’t have to face this battle alone.
People told me it would be kinder to let her go, to put her down. But I saw a spark in her. Even when she was unconscious, her paw twitched slightly as I stroked her, a small sign that she wasn’t ready to give up yet. She wanted a chance, and I was determined to give her one.
By the third day, something changed. Sena opened her eyes, lifted her head, and looked around, as if expecting to be greeted with her breakfast in bed. Her first small, hopeful glance at me filled me with determination. The crying had stopped, except when she was thirsty, and it was the first time I saw her truly aware that she was safe.
The vet estimated that she was at least ten years old. Despite everything, her blood tests came back surprisingly good. However, she weighed only 6.5 kilos, even after a week of feeding her. Most of her teeth were gone, and her fur was a distant memory, but I wasn’t giving up on her. I couldn’t help but wonder about her past. Had she been someone’s pet? Had she had litters of puppies? Had her owner simply died or cast her out, leaving her to fend for herself? I’ll never know, but I was committed to giving her dignity in the time she had left.
My husband and I made sure she was comfortable at all times—vitamin-rich food, a soft, cozy bed, and, of course, constant cuddles. Slowly but surely, she began to heal. Her body grew stronger with every passing day, and her health improved. Two weeks in, she had gained over a kilo. Her skin healed, and her fur began to regrow, which was a small miracle in itself.
As we took slow, gentle walks with her at sunset, I began to notice the change in her eyes. The fear that had once been so visible in them was slowly fading. With each step I took beside her, Sena seemed to believe she was truly safe. She was learning to trust again, and for the first time in a long while, she was beginning to enjoy life.
After a month, I could hardly recognize the dog she had been. Looking back at the early footage of her, it felt surreal. She had gained weight, her fur was fuller, her eyes brighter, and her little tail wagged when she saw us. I was overwhelmed with emotion when I saw her greet my husband so eagerly as he came home. For her, happiness had become simple—a warm home, regular meals, and the people who cared for her. We celebrated the small victories with every wag of her tail, every lap of food she eagerly devoured, and every nap she took in the safety of her new home.
One of the simplest joys we shared was the ice cream. Maybe it was the first time in her life she’d ever tasted something sweet. She licked it slowly, savoring every bite, oblivious to everything else around her. Watching her enjoy that ice cream, I cried a little. Each lick was a reminder that she had survived, that despite all the hardships, she had endured enough to experience joy.
Our first visit to the beach was another milestone in her journey. At first, she was hesitant and cautious. She sniffed the sand, looked at the waves, and then turned to me, as if asking, “Is this safe?” It was a far cry from the frightened, trembling dog who had once been abandoned on the street. I could see the change in her—she was beginning to trust the world again.
As the months went by, Sena’s transformation continued. She became a happy, sometimes silly, and occasionally grumpy old girl. She still retained some of the scavenging habits from her difficult past, but now she knew she was safe. Every ordinary day—meals, naps, walks—was a small victory for her. She had gone from a dying dog on the streets to a happy, loved companion who cherished the simple pleasures of life.
I had tried many times to trace her past, to find her original owner. Every lead ended in a dead end. At some point, we stopped looking. Her past would remain a mystery, but what mattered was the future we were now building together.
This morning, we tried the beach again. The first two times, Sena had been anxious, but today, she led the way, her tail down at first but rising as we walked. It was a small change, but it was a sign. She was beginning to love it, to love the freedom and the new life she had been given.
Eight months have passed since that fateful day when we picked Sena up from the street. When our friend found her near death, I never imagined she would make it this far. Looking at her now, healthy and happy, I can hardly believe the transformation. Some might even say she’s not the same dog. But I know better. She’s the same dog, only now she’s whole again. She’s proud of herself, and so am I. I’m grateful to everyone who helped in her recovery and to everyone who supported us through this journey.
Sena’s journey wasn’t easy, but with love, patience, and determination, she became the happy dog she is today. Healing a senior dog takes time, but the bond we’ve formed with her is stronger than I could have ever imagined. I’ll never forget that night when she cried in my arms, desperate and lost. But now, all that’s left are the soft memories and the wagging tail of a dog who has found love again.
Every day with Sena is a gift. Her smile, her gentle eyes, her playful nature—all of these are reminders of the power of love and compassion. She’s forgotten the sadness of her past, but I never will. Because this is what love can do—it heals, it restores, and it gives hope. Sena’s journey has taught me that no matter how broken we are, with the right care and love, we can heal and live again.
