Dogs have earned the right to be called man’s best friend for a reason. There is no love for man greater than that from a dog. But if that dog has never had a good experience with humans, they can be a little shy.

That was the case with Benji. He had lived on the streets his entire life according to people in the neighborhood and he’d never known the touch of a loving hand. Luckily, Hope for Paws animal rescue got a call about the stray pup and his life was about to get a complete overhaul. The rescuers drove the streets searching for Benji. They finally found him underneath a truck and jumped into action.

It took a bit to track Benji down. He was afraid of humans and immediately ran from them. They had to get a pole to be able to catch him. As soon as he was caught, the poor dog was frantic to be set free.

However, with a little bit of time and gentle coaxing, Benji finally settled down. He let the rescuers pet him and soothe him. Before long, he was ready to get loaded up in the vehicle and head to the shelter. At the shelter, Benji was shaved to get rid of the matted hair that had been confining him for years. His hair was full of fleas and bugs, which required more than just a haircut.

He got a good scrub in the bathtub and was checked over by medical staff. Then the hardest work started. Although Benji looked much better on the outside, his soul was still damaged. For ten days, Benji stayed withdrawn and kept mostly to himself. Little by little, with the help of one of the rescue workers and a couple canine companions, Benji began to show his true personality.

His bouncing personality began to grow, as did his hair, and underneath the matted, wild mess that was found on the street was a beautiful, loving little dog.

Check out the video below to learn more about Benji’s story and be sure to share his rescue with your family and friends.