There are so many heartbreaking stories out there of neglected, homeless pups– but sometimes incredible things happen. Below are four stories of dogs who were forgotten at first, but then overcame all the odds. <3

Transformation #4: Jada

When groomer Sabrina Van Asveld was asked to clean up a young Lhasa Apso mix who’d just been picked up from a local shelter, Sabrina didn’t hesitate. Jada the pup came to Sabrina with her coat a complete matted shell of a mess.

While Sabrina was working, Jada’s furry cocoon started to come off…

…And a butterfly of a pup started to emerge.

After Sabrina finished, Jada was a completely new pup. A few weeks later, Jada was adopted by a lucky family!

Transformation #3: Ginger the Poodle

Underneath this mass of matted fur, there once was a scared little poodle whose owners surrendered her to the City of Denton Animal Shelter in Texas way too late. Ginger was discovered when a utility repairman fell through the ceiling of the apartment above.

After a bit of TLC, Ginger became a new dog. While Ginger was groomed, she was excited, “sniffing and greeting everyone,” Gayla Nelson, the kennel supervisor, told the Dallas Morning News. “It was like a bird out of a cage.”

Right after Ginger was groomed, she still walked around as if she had pounds of extra fur attached to her.

Transformation #2: Rasta

The Quebec Society for the Protection of Animals (SPA) found this pup roaming around on the streets. He was so dirty and his fur was so matted, it was hard to tell whether this critter was a living thing or a mound of dirt.

All of the poor pup’s fur had turned into a hard crust around him.

But then the SPA got to work…

…And it took six employees three hours to free the little fella.

By the end he was the lovable pup he was always meant to be.

The best part of it all? Rasta was adopted by a nice lady to love him fur-ever. <3

Annnd Transformation #1: Shrek

When Dr. Brenda Gough and her Southern Cross Equestrian Facility team found this neglected, terrified pup near a pond in Ontario, they jumped into action to help rescue him from his own coat and skin.

When Shrek came in, the folks at SCEF couldn’t believe their eyes.

Through the whole process, the team removed 3.5 pounds of hair off the small pup.

After Shrek’s grooming, he was very timid and scared of his own shadow…

…But he slowly started to break out of the emotional shell in addition to the literal furry shell he’d been in previously.

He even made buds with a gigantic Newfoundland, Norstrom.

While Shrek was recovering, he lived with Dr. Gough and her family so that he could get better under her knowledgeable eye. Last we heard Shrek was in the Gough family permanently. <3

If you know of a pup or rescue in need, be sure to sign up for BarkFund where Bark & Co. gives out $1000 every week to lend a paw!