Puppy who lost all her fur now looks like a model

Vet assistant Jessie DeFreitas fell in love with scrappy little mongrel Terra, despite her suffering from such a bad skin condition she was practically bald.

But now, thanks to the 21-year-old’s dedication and love, little Terra looks like an Instagram model dog, complete with a glossy brown coat.

Jessie was shocked when the little pup was taken into the vets’ practice where she works by her owners, who were not taking care of her.

She said: “Everyone at the vet knows I’m a huge animal lover.

“When I was told we had a new dog, I had to see her.

“She may have had mange, but she had beautiful eyes.

“The vet said if the dog wasn’t signed over to them, she wouldn’t have survived.

“She needed constant care.

“I asked to foster the dog. My mum asked if I was sure because we already have four cats and another rescue dog at home.

“But everyone knows how much I love animals. At the vets I’m constantly asking about people’s pets.”

Jessie, from Crawley, took Terra home in August.

In three months, the pup went from angry and nipping to “kind and sweet”.

Jessie said: “I am a massive sucker for the cute ones, especially. I fell in love with her from the beginning.

“When we first brought her home, she was a playful biter. Her original name, Honey, didn’t fit her at all.

“To me, Honey is sweet and she is not.

“My mum named her Terra with an ‘a’ because it fit her better – she can be a little terror.”

Terra fully recovered from the mange and is now a playful little puppy.

Jessie said: “She’s recovered really well. You can see it in her eyes – she’s become happier and happier.

“She’s amazing. She’s just the kindest and sweetest thing.”