They Were Called “Ugly” and Left to Starve — How Two Brothers Survived Together
“Look at these two ugly dogs.”
That was it. No context. No concern. Just a sentence that made it easy to scroll past and forget. For two young dogs wandering near a campsite, that silence nearly became the end of everything.
Their names were Eundong and Geumdong. They were one-year-old brothers. For weeks, their survival depended on staying close while strangers passed by and help did not come.
When rescuers finally traced the post back to a real location, the brothers were still there, thinner than before and waiting for something to change.
Begging for Food, Expecting Rejection
Rescuers from Youumbba first learned about the dogs through reports that sounded familiar. Two thin dogs approaching campers, lingering at the edges, retreating quickly when voices rose.
They did not rush people. They waited.
Their behavior told its own story. Hunger paired with caution. Hope followed by retreat. The kind of pattern that forms only after rejection repeats itself enough times to feel expected.
Campers waved them away. Some complained. Others ignored them. When food did not come, the brothers crawled into tall grass together and stayed still, as if being unseen might hurt less than being chased.
Back where they slept, desperation took over. One of the dogs began eating grass, not out of curiosity, but necessity.
Four Days Later, They Were Still There
When rescuers rushed to the campsite days later, fear set in before they even arrived. Too much time had passed. The weather had turned. The area was busy.
But the brothers were still there.
They stood up fast when someone approached. Their bodies tensed. Their feet hesitated. Then the smell of food reached them.
They ate quickly, not greedily, but with urgency, as if the food might disappear at any moment.
One of the rescuers later described the moment simply: “It felt like they had already accepted being unwanted. Seeing them eat like that stays with you.”
Up close, their condition was worse. Paws swollen. Skin cracked and bleeding. Fur thin and uneven. And yet, one of the dogs leaned into the rescuer’s chest, pressing close without making a sound.
When Hunger Changes Behavior
Starvation alters behavior in ways many people never see.
Veterinary sources explain that dogs deprived of food for long periods may begin ingesting non-food items. This behavior is known as pica. The American Kennel Club defines it plainly: “Pica is the consumption of non-food items.” Objects like grass, plastic, or stones are not choices. They are attempts to quiet hunger.
Later X-rays would confirm this reality. Stones and plastic filled the brothers’ intestines. Anything they could swallow had become an option.
The Bond That Never Broke
Rescue was not simple. When the team tried to secure the dogs, the white one panicked and bolted. A net was used to keep him from running into danger.
Locals shared more pieces of the story. The dogs had appeared nearly two months earlier. No one knew where they came from. No one had claimed them.
During the long drive to safety, the reason they survived became clear.
Eundong, the white dog, stayed alert the entire time. When food arrived, he ate quickly, then stopped. He watched Geumdong eat before finishing himself.
Only later did the rescuers understand. Eundong had been giving part of his food to his brother. That was why he had been eating grass.
The Diagnosis No One Wanted
At the clinic, separation was unavoidable, and it was devastating.
For the first time, the brothers were placed in different spaces. Eundong cried. His body shook. Staff moved quickly to keep them within sight whenever possible.
Both dogs were diagnosed with severe demodex mange, parasites, anemia, and extreme malnutrition. Their skin bled when touched.
Demodex mange is not rare, but its severity tells a story. According to guidelines from the World Association for Veterinary Dermatology, “More than one mite on any given test is an indication of clinically relevant demodicosis.” In neglected dogs, weakened immune systems allow the condition to spiral quickly.
Blood tests revealed anemia. The Merck Veterinary Manual explains it clearly: “Anemia occurs when there is a decrease in the number of red blood cells,” limiting oxygen delivery and leaving the body exhausted.
Eundong’s condition was worse. He needed IV fluids and isolation. Geumdong battled a high fever. For days, the outcome remained uncertain.
Healing, Slowly, Together
Recovery did not rush.
The first week was focused entirely on stabilization.
Medical baths twice a week, careful feeding, and constant monitoring followed. At first, the brothers stayed quiet. Then tails began to lift. Eyes followed movement.
By day 15, anemia showed improvement. Geumdong’s fever broke. Appetite returned.
By day 35, the change was unmistakable. Fur grew back soft and clean. Swelling faded. Strength returned to legs that had once trembled under their own weight.
Veterinarians confirmed what rescuers already believed. There was a strong likelihood the dogs were brothers. Their bond had not been incidental. It had been protective.
From “Ugly” to Unbreakable
When Eundong and Geumdong finally left the hospital, they barely resembled the dogs from the campsite.
They greeted people with open curiosity. They leaned into touch. They rested without fear.
Both were adopted by families who saw what the label never could. Not flaws. Not inconvenience. Just two dogs who had survived together.
Why Their Story Matters
Eundong and Geumdong lived because they refused to leave each other, and because someone chose compassion when it finally mattered.
Stories like theirs remind us how quickly cruelty can hide behind a single word, and how much difference patience and care can make when they arrive in time.
If this story stayed with you, sharing it may help another animal be seen sooner.
If you want to read more verified rescue stories, these may also stay with you.
She Was Locked Away for Being “Ugly” — How Gracie Fought Her Way Back to Life
Locked in Darkness Since Puppyhood, Koda Finally Saw the World
