In the small town of Carrollton, Mississippi, a skinny stray dog with severe demodectic mange lingered outside the community's only store, Dollar General. Nearly bald, with raw, inflamed skin, he begged for scraps but fled from any human approach. As a cold front loomed, locals feared he wouldn't survive the winter, but luck and determination prevailed. 

Too fearful for hands-on capture, they tried trapping him with food, but after an initial malfunction allowed escape, he grew too wary to return.

Hope arrived when James and Pamela Edwards of Glory Hound Trapping saw social media pleas. Specialists in catching elusive dogs, they drove nearly two hours with their gentle "Molly Trap." On a frigid day, the dog—now named General Dollar—lay shivering and weak on a scavenged blanket. The next day, with the community withholding food to build hunger, they set the trap and monitored via camera. In just 30 minutes, he entered, and the door closed safely.

Rescuers rushed him to In Defense of Animals' Hope Animal Sanctuary, where he received a warm bed and a heater. 

Exhausted, General slept for 48 hours. 

As a feral dog untouched by kindness, his demodex treatment proceeded slowly, with soft music and patience to build trust. Another reformed feral resident, Ren, helped him socialize.

Today, General's skin has healed, and though still shy, he approaches caregivers tentatively. He thrives running in the grass with Ren, finally secure and loved.

Stories like General Dollar's highlight the vital work of Hope Animal Sanctuary in rural Mississippi, a lifeline for abused and forgotten animals. Donations support these rescues and, in some cases,  lifelong care, giving more dogs a second chance.