All dogs deserve a chance at love and happiness, no matter what they look like. Some dogs have medical issues that can make their appearance a bit hard to handle at first, but they still have hearts of gold on the inside.

That’s certainly the case for the stray dog Phoenix, who was left with a disfigurement so severe that people couldn’t believe it was real—but thanks to his boundless spirit and a team of dedicated rescuers, he’s inspired thousands on his road to a better life.

Phoenix got many adoption requests, but it was hard to send him away because his treatment was ongoing and he needed to be cleared by the vets first.

But everyone was hoping for the best, as Phoenix was doing better than anyone could’ve ever imagined.