When the factory owner saw what was happening, he ran.
Outside his workplace, a group of teenagers had surrounded a small puppy. The dog was already injured. He could not run. He could barely lift his head. By the time the man reached him, the abuse had stopped, but the damage was done.
The puppy’s jaw was broken. One eye was grotesquely swollen. Pain had taken over his entire body.
The man picked him up and carried him away, believing help would finally come.
It didn’t.
Three Days Where Nothing Happened
The puppy was brought to a nearby shelter. Then time passed.
Three days.
No treatment. No pain relief. No food.
When the factory owner realized nothing was being done, he reached out to Youumbba Rescue team, desperate for help. When the rescue team arrived, they found no staff on site and no records showing the puppy had received medical care.
“The shelter was abandoned,” one rescuer said. “The puppy was lying there, helpless, in pain, unable to move.”
His body was shutting down.
“The shelter owner told us he had no money to treat him,” the rescuer said. “He held the puppy in his arms with a broken heart.”
By the time Youumbba took him, the clock was already against him.
Racing Against Death
The rescue team rushed the puppy to the nearest veterinary clinic.
“It’s unbelievable that teenagers could do something like this,” one rescuer said. “We kept asking ourselves if we arrived too late.”
The factory owner reported the incident and provided dashcam footage. Authorities were notified. The rescue team said accountability mattered, but keeping the puppy alive came first.
At the clinic, the situation grew more serious.
The broken jawbone was protruding through his gums. Infection had already set in. Surgery could not wait.
“The doctor told us it was a miracle he was still alive,” the rescuer said. “He needed surgery that very day.”
Before surgery, the puppy sat in a rescuer’s lap and cried.
Everything hurt. The lights. The sounds. The hands that were trying to help.
“He was shaking when he left my arms,” the rescuer said. “This was the biggest surgery of his life.”
The operation lasted three hours. Surgeons stabilized the jaw and cleaned the infection. They saved what they could.
They could not save his eye. Several teeth had to be removed.
“The doctor said continuing immediately would be too dangerous,” the rescuer explained. “He needed time just to survive.”
Healing That Did Not Come All at Once
Days passed slowly.
The puppy showed small improvements, then setbacks. Infection remained a risk. Pain control was constant.
“When he saw me visiting, he was so happy,” the rescuer said. “But it was too early to celebrate.”
Physical injuries often heal faster than fear. The dogs who experience trauma may stay on high alert even after they are safe. Trust returns through calm handling, routine, and patience.
A second surgery followed. This one lasted four hours.
“When I saw his small back after surgery, my heart shattered,” the rescuer said. “He was on high doses of pain medication.”
One day later, his condition stabilized again.
When he recognized his rescuer, he tried to rush toward them, even with his injuries.
It was then the team learned he was only five months old. One of the teenagers involved was his owner.
A Name and a Long Road Back
The puppy was named Himtchan.
A month later, his wounds were healing, but his jaw had to remain restricted. Opening it too wide could dislocate it again and mean another surgery.
“He was clearly frustrated,” the rescue team said. “It had been so long since he could even open his mouth.”
Still, his affection grew stronger.
“He tried in every way to show us love,” one rescuer said.
Himtchan stayed at the veterinary clinic for months. Over time, the space stopped feeling like a hospital.
“He trusted everyone there,” the team said. “There were many nights we didn’t sleep, afraid we’d lose him.”
That consistency kept Himtchan alive.
After 75 days, his surgical wounds healed. His jaw loosened little by little. Each day, he could open his mouth more.
“The love and care from everyone changed his life,” the rescue team said. “He looked at us with genuine gratitude.”
When the teenagers later visited, they came once. They did not want to touch him. One asked to take him back.
The rescue refused.
“Who knows what they would have done to him again,” the rescuer said. “We promised him a better beginning.”
Also check out these rescues:
Finally Free
After three months, Himtchan left the clinic.
For the first time in a long time, he ran. He played. Other dogs gathered around him, curious and gentle.
“I’ve never seen him so happy,” his rescuer said. “He was running to make up for all the time he lost.”
Advertisements
He stayed close, choosing safety over distance.
At his final checkup, the veterinarian confirmed there were no remaining medical concerns.
“There is nothing to worry about anymore,” the doctor said.
Himtchan enjoyed his first real bath. Gentle hands. Care that once felt impossible.
“He looks handsome and wonderful now,” the rescuer said. “Do you still recognize him?”
A Forever Ending
Then came the call.
A family wanted to adopt Himtchan.
He went to a home where he is protected, supervised, and loved.
“When I look at him now, I know he’s living a happy life,” the rescuer said. “My heart feels warm seeing him this way.”
If Himtchan’s story stayed with you, consider sharing it. Stories like his only matter when they’re seen.
You can also watch his rescue and recovery in the video below, as well. Seeing those early moments adds weight to everything he survived.
Every share, every view, helps make sure dogs like Himtchan are not left behind.
Shariful Haque is a pet care writer and animal welfare advocate with over 10 years of hands-on experience fostering and rehabilitating pets through local rescue organizations. His research-driven articles focus on pet health, behavior, and everyday care, informed by reputable veterinary sources and real-world rescue experience. When applicable, content is reviewed for general accuracy by licensed veterinarians (DVM) and certified pet behavior specialists.