In the beginning of this year, a rescuer found a mixed breed Pointer who was only two years old on the streets of Tijuana. The dog, now known as Dwayne, was in a pitiable state as he was searching for food and the locals were throwing hot water and stones at him because they were disgusted by his physical abnormalities.

The dog had been mistreated by his previous owner, who had put a wire muzzle on him and subjected him to kicking. Unfortunately, the owner was in prison for an unrelated offense, leaving the poor pup, named Dwayne, to fend for himself on the streets. To make matters worse, Dwayne was attacked by two larger dogs, resulting in severe head injuries and almost losing his ears. Luckily, a rescuer found him and brought him to the Helen Woodward Animal Center, a compassionate animal shelter located in Rancho Santa Fe, California that believes in creating a legacy of caring through trust, unconditional love, and respect between animals and people. The center helped nurse Dwayne back to health from his traumatic experience of h.o.r.r.i.f.ic a.b.u.s.e to warm and loving care.

Despite the terrible mistreatment that the dog had gone through, he still showed love and affection to those he encountered. He would humbly approach with a wagging tail and a lick, and would lovingly nuzzle against anyone who approached him.

The team at the Helen Woodward center was dedicated to providing Dwayne with a fulfilling life. They worked tirelessly for several months to fix his badly deformed front leg and elbow, as well as reconstruct his nose and mouth, which had been severely mutilated. Vet-Stem Biopharma, a well-known stem cell therapy institute, also offered innovative treatment to aid in Dwayne’s recovery.

A new technology has been developed that retrieves tissue from an injured animal and injects their own healing stems back into the body through IV. Although the procedure typically costs $2,500, Dr. Schaffer of Vet-Stem Biopharma performed the procedure for free after hearing Dwayne’s story. The Helen Woodward Center also provided laser therapy to help with the healing process. Laser treatments have been proven to decrease inflammation, alleviate pain, and accelerate the recovery process. Despite undergoing facial reconstruction surgeries, Dwayne remained resilient throughout it all.

Dwayne’s incredible story captured the hearts of animal lovers worldwide, resulting in over $40,000 raised for his recovery. After being a.b.u.s.e.d and orphaned, Dwayne was finally ready to find his forever home in August 2017. To ensure he found the perfect family, the Helen Woodward Animal Center requested each applicant submit a 100-word essay or one-minute video explaining why they would be the best fit for Dwayne, along with specific qualifications. The center generously offered half off all of Dwayne’s medical expenses for life as long as he receives ongoing treatment at the center.

After a series of attempts to seek the most suitable home for Dwayne, the center has eventually discovered a great match with Kelly Nelle. At the moment, Dwayne is gradually moving on from his traumatic past and is relearning how to act like a typical dog.