Rescuers Refuse To Give Up On ‘Skin And Bones’ Dog Until She Finds A Happy Ending

“[S]he just needed a little TLC …”Published on Feb 6, 2026 at PMLast fall, the rescuers at One Tail at a Time (OTAAT) came across a dog who’d recently been saved by Chicago Animal Care and Control, and the sight of her made their stomachs drop.

They’d helped countless stray dogs in the past, but this fragile girl, named Chloe, was unlike any they’d ever encountered.

She was one of the skinniest dogs they’d ever seen.“Chloe was skin and bones with extremely long nails and irritated skin,” OTAAT wrote on Facebook.One Tail At A TimeIt was hard to know exactly what Chloe had been through before being rescued by animal control, but her condition suggested that she’d been neglected for a devastatingly long time.Chloe’s body was frail and weak, but the folks at OTAAT saw a glimmer of hope in her eyes.

They knew they could help her reach a healthy weight again and eventually find her a loving home.

So, they immediately took Chloe in and began a lengthy treatment plan.One Tail At A TimeFor those first few weeks, Chloe struggled to get comfortable.

While her strict refeeding plan helped her gain the weight back slowly and safely, Chloe’s body still ached.

But the pain didn’t stop her from showing her new caregivers love.“Despite the obvious discomfort she felt, she immediately leaned in for pets as I knelt beside her frail frame,” OTAAT wrote.You can see more pictures of Chloe’s first days at OTAAT here:Shortly after her arrival, Chloe went off to a foster home, where she began to thrive even more.“[I]t became clear she just needed a little TLC,” OTAAT wrote. “She gained weight, got her nails trimmed, and started looking shinier and brighter by the hour.”Chloe’s progress was stunning, and the folks at OTAAT soon decided that she was healthy enough to be adopted.

Before they could add her picture to their website, however, a woman named Shelia inquired about her.Shelia made an appointment to meet Chloe, and the bond they had instantly upon meeting told the folks at OTAAT everything they needed to know.“They made it official, and now Chloe is HOME!” OTAAT wrote.You can see Chloe with her new mom here:It’s been a few months since Chloe went home with Shelia, and she couldn’t be happier with her new life.

She’s a recent graduate of obedience school and just celebrated her first Christmas ever surrounded by a family that loves her.Having finally reached her goal weight, Chloe looks nothing like she did just a few months ago.

And thankfully, with every new adventure by her mom’s side, Chloe’s memories of her past continue to fade away.“She was sweet and gentle [on Christmas] and soaked up all of the affection,” Shelia wrote to OTAAT, later shared on Facebook. “She is just the best.

I wish I had her all her life …”To help pets like Chloe get the care they need, you can donate to One Tail at a Time here.