In a dusty corner of a neighborhood in Indonesia, Milky lived four long years with little more than a chain around her neck, scraps for food, and barely enough shelter to keep the rain off half her body.
Thin, frail, and skin raw from neglect, she moved with caution and looked at the world as though she knew she deserved nothing more.
But then one moment of compassion changed everything.
Lourdes Joanna Kusumadi was on her way to drop a friend home in October 2023 when she saw Milky tied outside someone’s house.
She’d previously noticed Milky rummaging in trash, trying to feed herself.
The dog’s fur was patchy and matted; her skin irritated. The shelter overhead covered only part of her as rain beat down.
It was a portrait of abandonment, and for Lourdes, it was impossible to walk past without doing something.
She offered food that day, but the look in Milky’s eyes stayed with her.
Something in the mix of fear and determination called out for rescue.
Lourdes asked the dog’s owner if the dog (named Milky) and another named Chloe could go to people who would care for them.
Miraculously, the owner agreed. Soon, Lourdes and friends routed Milky to a vet clinic. The real work began.
At first, Milky was near skeletal, her coat a sad patchwork of bare spots and crusty skin.
The vet diagnosed her with fungal infection and scabies.
She had atopic dermatitis—likely worsened by poor diet, neglect, and exposure to the elements.
Over two weeks of dedicated care and treatment followed: medicated baths, gentle grooming, nutrients tailored to rebuild her skin and coat.
She was thin, weary, but always alert—her spirit unbroken even when her body was fragile.
Now, months later, Milky is unrecognizable. Her fur has grown back shiny and full. The bald patches closed over.
Her coat, once dull and matted, shows hints of the fluff and curl she was born with.
She gains weight, strength, and something more elusive: confidence.
She no longer flinches at human touch; she greets people, loves to be petted, behaves like a dog who knows what a kind hand feels like.
Lourdes said she’s surprised at how little trauma Milky shows toward people.
Even after years with so little, Milky quickly adapted to her rescue home.
She gets along with her doggy brother Paopao, plays when she feels up to it, and never hides under furniture.
She’s bright, welcoming, a dog transformed not only in appearance but in hope.
Check out their cute video here:
https://www.tiktok.com/@toxicrown/photo/7547329341047196946
People have recognized that transformation too.
A video Milky’s rescue journey posted on TikTok has gone viral, with over half a million views and tens of thousands of likes.
Comments overflow with gratitude and admiration—for Milky’s strength, for Lourdes’s kindness, for what love can do.
For Lourdes, one of the most touching thoughts is this: maybe Milky was always capable of this—of wagging tails, clean fur, affection—but just never given the chance until now.
Milky’s story isn’t just about what rescue can do for a dog.
It’s what compassion can do for all of us.
When someone sees, when someone acts, when someone decides enough neglect is enough—life doesn’t just survive. It thrives.
