It was a typical spring day in April when Neda Saghafi’s phone buzzed with a notification that would change her life — and the life of one tiny puppy. A Facebook tag had directed her to a post about a stray in Fresno, California, just three months old. The little dog was in a high-kill shelter, and his appearance was shocking: hairless, scabbed, and covered in streaks of strange purple dye.
Saghafi, who runs Simba’s Paw Dog Rescue, didn’t hesitate. She knew how shelters like this operated — dogs in poor condition rarely got adopted, and their chances of survival without intervention were slim. Looking at the puppy’s photograph, her heart sank, then surged with determination.
“My heart struck, and I thought, ‘I have to rescue this dog,’” she recalled.
That moment set the wheels in motion for a remarkable journey of healing, discovery, and second chances.
The Purple Enigma
When Saghafi first saw the photos, she struggled to make sense of the odd markings on the puppy’s skin. Large purple streaks ran across his body, and a distinct cross had been drawn onto his forehead.
“At first, I thought it was spray paint — maybe kids spray-painted him, or worse, that he had been used for dogfighting,” she said. “Sometimes people mark bait dogs with colors to place bets on them.”
The possibilities were horrifying, but the truth turned out to be unusual in its own right.
Once Saghafi picked up the puppy, whom she named Prince, she rushed him to the vet. After an examination, the vet explained that the purple dye wasn’t paint at all but likely an outdated antiseptic spray once used on farm animals such as cows, chickens, and horses. Someone had apparently sprayed it on Prince, perhaps with the misguided hope of treating his mange or skin infection.
Even so, the strange markings were unsettling. The dye clung stubbornly to his skin, only fading after weeks of care and as new fur began to grow in.
The Battle With Mange
Beyond the bizarre coloring, Prince’s true struggle lay in the state of his health. He had demodex mange, a condition caused by mites burrowing into the skin, which had left him bald, itchy, and covered in painful scabs. A secondary infection made things worse, leaving his skin raw and bloody.
“He was one of the worst mange cases I’ve ever taken in — and I’ve seen a lot,” Saghafi admitted. “When you touched him, it felt like you were touching a lizard or a snake.”
But she refused to give up. With medication, medicated baths, and careful nurturing, the healing process began. Slowly but surely, the scabs disappeared, the itch subsided, and little tufts of fur sprouted across his fragile frame.
Two months later, Prince was unrecognizable. His coat had mostly grown back, his skin had cleared, and his eyes shone with playful curiosity.
From Sick Puppy to Beloved Companion
While Prince’s body healed, his personality blossomed. Saghafi affectionately nicknamed him “Chicken Nugget,” a nod to his round, cuddly frame as he gained weight and confidence.
“Prince is very affectionate and very loving,” she said. “He plays with all my dogs — my permanent pack and my fosters. He just wants to be friends with everybody. And he’s the best cuddler. When you hold him, he melts in your arms and gives you kisses.”
The once-frail puppy quickly became a social butterfly. Despite his early hardships, he bore no grudges, only love. His resilience was a reminder of the incredible capacity dogs have to forgive and embrace joy.
An Unexpected Reunion
Just as life was beginning to stabilize for Prince, fate had another surprise in store. In June, Saghafi received a message about another puppy found in the same Fresno area. This pup looked strikingly similar to Prince — hairless in patches, struggling with mange, but with the same gentle eyes.
When she met the puppy, her suspicion was confirmed: this was almost certainly Prince’s sister. The family who had found her was doing their best to provide care, but the little one needed more attention. They agreed to let Saghafi foster her.
She named the puppy Cleo, and from the moment she entered Saghafi’s home, the bond between the siblings was undeniable.
“They reunited, and it was crazy,” Saghafi said. “They just love each other. They play nonstop. Cleo follows him everywhere, especially because she’s deaf, and she feels safer by his side.”
Watching the siblings together brought tears to Saghafi’s eyes. Against all odds, the two had found each other again.
Looking Toward Forever Homes
As much as Saghafi adored Prince, she knew her role as a foster mom was to prepare him — and now Cleo — for their forever families. Still, the thought of letting go tugged heavily at her heart.
“Prince has been one of my favorites,” she admitted. “I’m definitely going to cry when he leaves. I kept going back and forth about keeping him, but fostering means I have to make space for the next dog in need.”
Her one non-negotiable is that Prince and Cleo find the right homes. She isn’t rushing the process, nor is she willing to send them across the country.
“I know the perfect home is out there for him,” she said firmly. “I’ll wait as long as it takes.”
Until then, Prince and Cleo continue to thrive, showering Saghafi with affection and filling her home with joy.
Prince’s story is more than a tale of survival — it’s a reminder of how compassion can transform a life. From a hairless, purple-marked puppy on death row to a thriving, affectionate dog ready for a forever family, his journey speaks to the resilience of animals and the dedication of rescuers like Saghafi.
The purple stains have long faded, but Prince’s legacy shines brighter than ever — proof that every dog, no matter how broken they may seem, deserves love and a second chance.
