Neglected dog starved of food and water arrived at the shelter — but the price tag on his branded collar left everyone speechless

An animal rescue group came across a pet dog who was surrendered by his former owner in compromised conditions. While the three-year-old pup was deprived of food and water, his dog collar narrated a different story. Now named Truman, the rescue dog is a loving soul loved by everyone at the shelter, following a dramatic transformation that took just a few days. Community Effort Animal Rescue (C.E.A.R.) in Litterock, California, took the pup in after his former owner failed to care for him. He was left outside in the home's backyard without food and water for days under the sweltering sun. The neglect had caused the poor pup to become bitter and defensive toward humans.

As soon as the volunteers at the shelter took care of him and offered him food, a prompt change in his behavior stunned everyone. However, Truman came in with irony. When the rescuers removed the collar from his neck, they were shocked to find it was a highly expensive one. “The irony of pulling this $300 Tiffany’s collar off of him,” the shelter wrote in a viral video posted on their official Instagram page, @communityeffortanimalrescue. Truman was taken into their care in poor health, while his luxurious collar indicated a tragic backstory. It is likely his former parents had the resources to provide for him, but left him in unlivable conditions due to a lack of concern. 

“We have seen this so many times…I’ll never want to understand this. This pup is only 3 years old. How quickly he was, I’m assuming, purchased and then discarded,” the caption said. Staff found his fur matted, and Truman was reactive, growling and snapping at members. Within a week, he began showing signs of recovery and running to staff with a wagging tail, signaling his joy. In another video, the shelter documented Truman’s journey from an angry and hurt dog to a happy soul. Until day four, the pup snapped back at the staff member, but something shifted the following day.

The staff captured Truman seeking affection and clinging to her, shedding his negative demeanor. “I thought I was ready for day five’s update — I wasn’t. Some moments leave you speechless, wrapped in a mix of happiness, relief, and pride for the work we pour our hearts into every day. This is one of those moments,” the post’s caption noted. It became clear that the mutt was craving food, shelter, and most importantly, some care from his caretakers. 

In the comments, people expressed concern about Truman’s health and inquired about his X-ray and any underlying injuries that may have triggered his aggressive reactions. “He is so sweet, I think he’s snapping out of pain somewhere. Thank you for the good work you do,” wrote @jlpsangregorio, while a fellow animal professional, @hippiekikay, added, “I'd still be very cautious of him. He seems like a very unpredictable pup and may need much more time to adapt and be deeply evaluated before adoption.”

You can follow @communityeffortanimalrescue on Instagram for more videos.