On the morning of September 18, 2015, Sharon Stone, Operations Manager of IDA’s Hope Animal Sanctuary, received a call requesting help for a “stray” dog who the caller reported was “in bad shape.” The caller texted a picture to Sharon and true enough, this dog was in dire need of immediate help.

Upon arrival, Sharon was met by the family that had called for help for this sweet dog, and they directed her to their back yard where they had provided food and water. Mercy, as she would come to be called, came running right to Sharon with her tail wagging. Her face was devoid of any fur and the skin there was very rough, not unlike an elephant’s hide. Sharon knew this was one of the hallmarks of demodectic mange. While petting Mercy, she noticed sores on her sides and under her neck caused from scratching at the mites. We knew her skin was painful but Mercy did not complain, she was just happy to be safe at last!

Mercy is now with Hope Animal Sanctuary and is getting the treatment she needs for the mange and the bacterial infections on her skin. Although she will need several months of treatment, we are committed to giving Mercy the life she so richly deserves.