Fear of people was one of several problems facing Santa, a white golden retriever puppy rescued from an Australian puppy farm. He also had a misaligned jaw and a bulging eye.
With veterinary treatment and a foster carer's patience, the frightened puppy has begun a new life.
Here's what to know
RSPCA inspectors discovered nearly 100 dogs living in cramped, bare enclosures at a property in Canning Vale, a suburb of Perth, according to The Age. Untreated illnesses and malnutrition affected many of the dogs.
Inspectors spent 10 days removing the dogs and placing them in veterinary care. Some required quarantine, while more than 20 ultimately had to be euthanized because their conditions were so severe.
When inspectors tried to comfort the dogs, they fled. A corgi puppy ran in circles repeatedly, while some golden retriever puppies kept their heads pressed against a wall. Their behavior showed profound distress.
The operator received a nine-month prison sentence. Magistrate Sandra De Maio described him as a "devious and dishonest individual," The Age reported.
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More background
Five-month-old Santa, whose eye was injured, went home with RSPCA volunteer and foster carer Bryden Dempsey-Gaut rather than the littermate she had expected to foster.
Before she began fostering, Dempsey-Gaut's volunteer work involved dog-walking shifts near the Malaga bush track, according to The Age.
Arriving home brought no immediate relief for Santa, and he looked for a hiding place as soon as he was inside. Wrapped in a towel during the drive, he had trembled the whole way.
"He came home, and he just immediately ran under the couch and shoved his head under – just hiding from everything. I had to baby gate the house so he'd have a safe space to make it a bit more comfortable for him," Dempsey-Gaut said, according to The Age.
Loud noises and closing doors made Santa anxious, and he distrusted even kind approaches. His ravenous appetite reflected the starvation he had endured there.
What's being done?
Several of Santa's upper teeth had to be removed after veterinarians found that an untreated abscess was making his eye bulge. With support from the RSPCA, Dempsey-Gaut accessed veterinary care for Santa.
At home, Santa found help from two companions: Honey, another puppy farm rescue, and Ollie, an older golden retriever.
His progress was gradual. He began joining Dempsey-Gaut on the couch and wagging more enthusiastically at mealtimes — signs he was growing more comfortable.
Dempsey-Gaut eventually adopted Santa. The puppy who once hid beneath the couch now enjoys trips to the beach, spending time with Honey and Ollie, and cuddling with her young son.
Dempsey-Gaut also praised the RSPCA foster care team for their support.
"You don't need much room – you can just provide a bit of a safe harbour for animals to realise the world can be a safe place and to slowly learn to trust," she said, according to The Age.
"And bonus, you get to have gorgeous animals around all the time. It's a win-win, and the RSPCA are amazing. The foster care team is super supportive."
Where can I learn more?
Other rescued dogs have found new homes after treatment and time with foster carers, much like Santa.
• In Alberta, officers rescued 97 small-breed dogs from a home, marking the SPCA's largest intake.
• In Honolulu, a foster carer adopted a bonded puppy pair and plans to train them as service dogs.
• After suffering for 10 years, a rescued senior dog was fostered and then adopted.
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