Niall Harbison is well-known in animal welfare circles thanks to his tireless work in his Thailand rescue, Happy Doggo. His social media posts often go viral as he shares the stories of the countless street dogs he tends to and often saves with the help of his team.

He recently brought in a dog in dire need of lots of love and medical care, and is making sure she gets both at his rescue’s sanctuary.

In a video from @wearehappydoggo, Harbison shared the street dog’s story and how he was able to approach her.

“She’s safe now, but she doesn’t know it yet,” the onscreen text explained as the frightened dog cowered in the corner. “For months, one woman kept her alive, the only woman she dared to trust.”

The video showed the pooch allowing a kindhearted woman pet her, yet she ran from anyone else. This woman had been feeding the hungry dog and making sure she had water. Thankfully, she was able to help Harbison’s team bring the hurting canine to his sanctuary.

“Because of that trust, we were able to bring her in, terrified and shaking,” the story continued. “No fur and her skin, cracked and bleeding.”

Harbison made medical attention a priority. He named her Sienna, which means “she’ll rise again”.

“Her healing starts now,” the video concluded.

How Is Sienna Doing Now?

Sienna previously had several litters of puppies and was petrified of humans. She basically faced the wall with her tail between her legs when she arrived at the sanctuary. Harbison recently opened a hospital in memory of his beloved Golden Retriever, Tina, and took Sienna there for treatment.

“Her blood results and skin samples were very bad in Tina’s hospital but we started her treatment an hour after she came in to us,” the captioin explained in a recent post from @niall.harbison. “While the medicines and good food and special baths are a huge part, I do think some dogs respond just as much to the love and human touch.”

The video showed Harbison carefully interacting with Sienna and gently earning her trust. She gradually allowed herself to receive Harbison’s affection and made some very positive steps in just 48 hours.

Related: 20-Year-Old Rescue Dachshund Brings His Own Blanket Everywhere and It’s Adorable

After eating food straight from Harbison’s hand and letting him give her lots of hugs and pets, “the most incredible thing happened” where Sienna’s tail actually started wagging. Harbison gave her a bright red bandana to wear around her neck after her bath to help her reclaim her dignity.

“She has just been surviving at best on the streets for years. I think she already understands that life is behind her and she has a better future,” the caption concluded.

As always, Harbison is fully committed to Sienna’s healing, and everyone watching is in her corner.

Learn more about Happy Doggo or make a donation by visiting their website or accounts on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.

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This story was originally reported by Parade Pets on Nov 21, 2025, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add Parade Pets as a Preferred Source by clicking here.