Frank was found starving, blind, and broken.

An ex-volunteer, back in Sangkhlaburi for just a few days, found him lying in the road outside a small garage. No one knew what had happened to him. He couldn’t move. He couldn’t lift his head. He was barely alive.

When the call came in, there was very little hope.

One of our veterinarians travelled by motorcycle to assess him. The situation was grim. Frank was so weak that euthanasia was discussed as a possibility. At Sangkhlaburi, that decision is never made without first giving an animal a chance.

Frank was brought back to the sanctuary.

What we found was heartbreaking.

He was severely emaciated and starving. One of his back legs had clearly been broken at some point and left to heal on its own, leaving it badly deformed. He was blind, or nearly so. Despite the leg injury, it wasn’t the reason he couldn’t walk — he was simply too weak to even hold his head up.

For days, our team fought for him.

Frank was hand-fed. He received treatment around the clock. Our veterinary team monitored him constantly. After four days, then five, there was almost no improvement. He lay quietly, exhausted, as though he had already given up.

A difficult meeting was held.

With heavy hearts, the veterinary team decided that if there was no change by the end of the next uninterrupted working day, Frank would be allowed to go peacefully. The medications were prepared.

Then something extraordinary happened.

When our vet entered the recovery room at the end of the day, Frank was standing. Not only standing — he was wagging his tail.

Frank made the decision himself to live.

Today, Frank can walk slowly and carefully, but on his own. He is still blind, though we believe he can see shadows. He is gentle, affectionate, and deeply people-oriented. His teeth are in very poor condition from long-term hunger, making it difficult to determine his age, but we believe he is not old — just worn down by neglect and starvation.

Frank will remain with us until, hopefully, a forever home can be found.

Soon, he will learn something entirely new: that food will come every day, that he doesn’t have to fight to survive, and that he is safe and loved.