Sanjo was limping through the streets, searching for scraps of food, when he stumbled across the person who would change his life forever.
Abandoned and living off garbage, the young puppy had been left to fend for himself, dragging partially paralyzed back legs and carrying a deep look of exhaustion.
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A passerby spotted him and couldn’t walk away. Despite Sanjo’s hesitation and lack of trust at first, the man who found him stayed patient.
Over time, that patience paid off.
After a bath and a thorough check-up at the vet, Sanjo was diagnosed with congenital dysplasia—a condition affecting the development of his hips and making it hard for him to walk properly.
There were two paths forward: costly surgery with risks of permanent paralysis or a slower, less certain approach involving supplements and physical therapy.
Hoping for the best outcome, his rescuer brought Sanjo to a larger animal hospital for a second opinion.
There, a woman stepped up to take over his care. She saved up for the surgery and gave the go-ahead for treatment that could give Sanjo his mobility back.
The operation was a success.
To celebrate, she brought Sanjo to Tengchong, Yunnan, where he could experience open spaces and clean air.
Along the way, they faced challenges—finding dog-friendly places to stay and navigating transport—but they also met strangers willing to help, saw beautiful landscapes, and built a bond neither expected.
Sanjo ran through grassy fields, made new dog friends, and slowly transformed into a joyful, energetic companion.
For the woman who gave him everything, Sanjo became much more than a rescue case—he became family.
Today, Sanjo lives a full life, running freely and enjoying the love that began with a simple act of kindness.
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