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This Pit Bull’s Before-And-After Photos Show What Love And Patience Can Do
Emaciated pit bull rescued from Brazil streets, shown before and after transformation into a happy, healthy, spoiled dog.
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Abandoned And Terrified, This Pit Bull Was Rescued In Brazil And Finally Found A Home

Interview

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People were shocked when they saw the sorry state Rubi the pit bull was in. This is, sadly, not uncommon for strays in Brazil. But thanks to the people who refused to look away, this dog’s story soon began to change. What happened next was a slow rebuild: from survival to safety, from fear to trust, and eventually, to the kind of happy ending most street dogs never get.

Our team got in touch with the woman who rescued Rubi to find out more about how she was found and where she is now. Scroll down to read the full interview.

More info: Instagram

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    Rubi was spotted on the streets of Viçosa looking like she’d already run out of options

    Emaciated pit bull standing on rough concrete ground, showing ribs and a scared expression.

    Image credits: sovipavicosa

    Asked where Rubi was found and what state she was in at the time, Luciana Pinheiro shared: “Rubi was found on the streets of Viçosa, Brazil, extremely underweight, weak, frightened, and at serious risk due to hunger and abandonment.”

    Up close, it was clear she was a dog in crisis

    Pit Bull rescued from the streets of Brazil, lying on the floor with a scared posture in a dimly lit corner.

    Image credits: sovipavicosa

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    She kept her distance at first, like she’d learned people usually don’t mean well

    Emaciated pit bull rescued from Brazil streets eating kibble on a concrete floor against a gray wall.

    Image credits: sovipavicosa

    She explained that it didn’t take long for Rubi to start recovering: “Once safe, Rubi showed she was a very gentle and docile pit bull. With time, care, and affection, her fear slowly turned into trust.”

    The rescue began with the hardest part: getting her to believe help was real

    Pit bull being bathed and cared for, showing transformation from scared to spoiled rescue dog.

    Image credits: sovipavicosa

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    The first signs of change weren’t dramatic, but they were small moments of calm

    Pit bull rescued from Brazil streets, resting on a blanket, showing ribs and a scared demeanor.

    Image credits: sovipavicosa

    Local organizations also played a major role in Rubi’s transformation, Luciana explained: “Rubi’s recovery was supported by the Sociedade Viçosense de Proteção aos Animais (SOVIPA), an organization dedicated to rescuing, protecting, and rehabilitating abandoned animals in Viçosa. Their work was essential in giving Rubi the care and support she needed to rebuild her life and find a forever home.”

    Once she was safely out of danger, Rubi was given the space to adapt

    Pit bull resting on beige couch next to red pillow, showing signs of recovery after rescue from the streets of Brazil.

    Image credits: sovipavicosa

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    As her body recovered, her personality started peeking through the fear

    Pit bull rescued from the streets of Brazil resting comfortably on a beige couch with red cushions in a cozy room.

    Image credits: sovipavicosa

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    Asked what Rubi’s life looks like today, the response was: “Rubi was adopted by Jade Guimarães, who welcomed her into a loving and permanent home. Today, Rubi lives surrounded by affection, rests peacefully, and knows she will never be alone again. Through social media, it is clear that she is truly happy with her new family.”

    And then came the biggest turning point: someone chose her for good

    Man and woman smiling with a rescued pit bull, showing a pit bull going from scared to spoiled in a loving home.

    Image credits: sovipavicosa

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    She went from surviving outside to mastering the art of the peaceful nap

    Pit Bull resting peacefully on a couch, showing calm and comfort after being rescued from the streets of Brazil.

    Image credits: sovipavicosa

    The anxious, guarded look faded, replaced by the smile of a dog who belongs

    Happy pit bull rescued from the streets of Brazil with tongue out enjoying outdoor playtime in the sun

    Image credits: sovipavicosa

    Her sweet personality and cuddly nature really emerged in her forever home with Jade and her family

    Man in a black hoodie gently holding a relaxed brown and white pit bull, showcasing rescued pit bull from Brazil.

    Image credits: sovipavicosa

    The street taught her to be tough; her home is teaching her it’s okay to be soft

    Pit bull rescued from the streets of Brazil looking up with attentive eyes, showing trust and affection indoors.

    Image credits: sovipavicosa

    Walks aren’t escapes anymore, they’re just walks, with a human she trusts beside her

    Brown and white pit bull rescued from streets of Brazil, happily lying on grass with a stick in mouth on a sunny day.

    Image credits: sovipavicosa

    Being in the streets is soon going to be a distant memory for Rubi

    Pit bull rescued from the streets of Brazil looking out a window, showing a journey from scared to spoiled.

    Image credits: sovipavicosa

    And this has allowed her to grow into a beautiful, healthy dog

    Pit bull lying in grass with a toy, happy and relaxed after being rescued from the streets of Brazil.

    Image credits: sovipavicosa

    Rubi didn’t just get rescued, she got a life where she’s treated like family

    Two women outdoors smiling with a rescued pit bull and another dog in a mountainous area in Brazil.

    Image credits: sovipavicosa

    If you want to follow or support the organization which helped Rubi survive and find her forever home, you can do so on their Instagram page.

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    Hidrėlėy

    Hidrėlėy

    Author, Approved Contributor

    Read more »

    I am a Brazilian digital artist who loves transforming imagination into hyper-real visuals. I work with artificial intelligence and image editing to create what I always wondered as a child: how would our favorite characters look in real life? Over time, many of my artworks have gone viral and were featured in international publications. I have recreated realistic versions of cartoon characters such as Disney and The Simpsons, imagined how celebrities who died young would look today, and even gave modern faces to historical figures like Mona Lisa or Shakespeare. Beyond entertainment, I created Para Não Esquecer, a social project that revisits memorable criminal cases in Brazil. My goal is to honor victims, keep memory alive and remind society that justice and empathy matter. I also write for Bored Panda, where I create articles featuring artists, photographers, rescue stories and feel-good moments from around the world. My work aims to highlight creativity, kindness and emotional storytelling. In everything I do, my purpose is the same: to touch hearts, evoke emotion and make people feel something real.

    Read less »
    Hidrėlėy

    Hidrėlėy

    Author, Approved Contributor

    I am a Brazilian digital artist who loves transforming imagination into hyper-real visuals. I work with artificial intelligence and image editing to create what I always wondered as a child: how would our favorite characters look in real life? Over time, many of my artworks have gone viral and were featured in international publications. I have recreated realistic versions of cartoon characters such as Disney and The Simpsons, imagined how celebrities who died young would look today, and even gave modern faces to historical figures like Mona Lisa or Shakespeare. Beyond entertainment, I created Para Não Esquecer, a social project that revisits memorable criminal cases in Brazil. My goal is to honor victims, keep memory alive and remind society that justice and empathy matter. I also write for Bored Panda, where I create articles featuring artists, photographers, rescue stories and feel-good moments from around the world. My work aims to highlight creativity, kindness and emotional storytelling. In everything I do, my purpose is the same: to touch hearts, evoke emotion and make people feel something real.

    Tarik Velić

    Tarik Velić

    Moderator, BoredPanda staff

    Read more »

    Hey Pandas! I’m Tarik, a Community Manager at Bored Panda. Day-to-day, I help creators present their posts in the best possible way, spotlight great work, and keep an eye on community activity so discussions stay welcoming, constructive, and fun. Before joining Bored Panda, I worked in freelance writing and project coordination/management at my alma mater. Outside work, you’ll find me carving corners on my motorcycle, falling into history-related rabbit holes, keeping up with politics, and occasionally building scale models or Lego “for five minutes” that turns into an entire evening. I also have a weakness for bold colors, sunsets, and wonderfully strange animals.

    Read less »

    Tarik Velić

    Tarik Velić

    Moderator, BoredPanda staff

    Hey Pandas! I’m Tarik, a Community Manager at Bored Panda. Day-to-day, I help creators present their posts in the best possible way, spotlight great work, and keep an eye on community activity so discussions stay welcoming, constructive, and fun. Before joining Bored Panda, I worked in freelance writing and project coordination/management at my alma mater. Outside work, you’ll find me carving corners on my motorcycle, falling into history-related rabbit holes, keeping up with politics, and occasionally building scale models or Lego “for five minutes” that turns into an entire evening. I also have a weakness for bold colors, sunsets, and wonderfully strange animals.

    What do you think ?
    Multa Nocte (she/her/8647)
    Community Member
    Premium
    22 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Oh bless this poor sweet dog and thank goodness for the lovely Brasilian couple who took her to her forever home.

    Multa Nocte (she/her/8647)
    Community Member
    Premium
    22 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Oh bless this poor sweet dog and thank goodness for the lovely Brasilian couple who took her to her forever home.

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