TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Thousands of people are mourning the death of a dog named Khalessi who survived horrible abuse and went on to inspire and help others. The loveable pit bull mix who did not have a snout passed away Thursday morning after suffering from kidney failure.

Khalessi was admired by many and had her own Facebook page with more than 65,000 followers. As of Thursday evening, more than 11,000 condolence messages were posted to her Facebook page. A true testament to the many lives she touched.

From the day she was rescued, Khalessi’s strength was the stuff of legend. The gentle warrior who inspired people all over the world with her story of survival, was tiny but mighty. She endured horrific torture at the hands of her abuser, but she didn’t have a mean bone in her body. The young pup with the hopeful eyes spent most of her life forced to defend herself in raging, brutal dog fights.

Yet, Khalessi never showed any aggression. She was beaten within an inch of her life, made to breed and then tortured while pregnant with her puppies. As if that wasn’t awful enough, Khalessi was then left to die in the hot August sun on the side of the road in Orlando. She was discovered limp and lifeless in the grass, struggling to breathe. Her spine and back legs were broken after receiving savage, repeated blows from a baseball bat.

Then, there was the wound so brutal, so jarring that it shocked even the most experienced veterinarians. The injury, so raw and cruel, caused insurmountable pain to this loving animal with a heart of gold. Khalessi’s nasal cavity was chopped off, with tender, raw skin exposed, revealing her canines jutting out uncomfortably. After all the suffering and heinous treatment, she managed to beat the odds in the face of evil.

When Stephanie Paquin from Passion 4 Pits rescue met Khalessi, it was love at first sight. Stephanie’s life changed in an instant and her heart opened wider than it ever had before. She never saw the scars, the wounds, or the lasting effects of cruelty. Stephanie knew Khalessi was the gentlest of creatures, one who just needed a little love.

The sweet pit bull mix quickly won Stephanie’s heart, along with countless others. Those who were lucky enough to spend time with Khalessi always left those precious moments in awe. How could this abused pup show so much unconditional love, anxiously craving a nurturing touch? She just did. That’s who she was.

After so much suffering, Khalessi finally lived a life filled with love, affection and joy in the end. She enjoyed lazy days, naps in the sun, wiggles in the grass and cuddles nearly 24-7.

This tiny girl was given a second chance, and she made the most out of every single second. But, there were deeper battles she fought within. Khalessi suffered debilitating kidney issues and spent much of the last six months at the University of Florida School of Veterinary Medicine. Veterinarians told Stephanie that Khalessi’s kidneys were failing, and the prognosis wasn’t good. But, Stephanie knew that her little survivor would let everyone know when it was time.

On Thursday morning, that time came, amidst tears and grief. “Her body was tired,” she said. “She told me it was time. I’m devastated. This has left a huge hole in my heart.” At 8:43am, Khalessi was put to rest peacefully, surrounded by those who loved her and cared for her most.

In her final weeks, however, Khalessi knew there was work to be done. And, she did it. She enjoyed a new job, and she was good at it. She became a goodwill ambassador, of sorts, visiting schools all over the Bay area, teaching students a valuable lesson – acceptance and inclusion. She showed them – it’s okay to be different.

As a matter of fact, before she left this world, Khalessi passed along the sweetest lesson of all – sometimes a struggle makes you stronger.

Students loved their 4-legged instructor. “It seems amazing she survived. She’s happy and forgiving, something I wouldn’t be able to do. I just think she’s the most amazing dog I’ver seen right now,” said one student at Pierce Middle School in Tampa recently.

Stephanie echoed that sentiment. “Khalessi looks different, but she doesn’t treat anybody any differently, and she just wants love. Child can look different and they are different on the inside, they too just want love,” Stephanie told us.

“She has a story that resonates with a lot of people who have had obstacles in life, you have problems at home, medical issues. She doesn’t let any of it get her down.”

The students loved her, and she loved them right back. They flocked to her, and like so many before them, they fell in love. Khalessi showed them that the real, true beauty in a person lies deep within because it is there that a soul resides.

She was the example to people all over the world that even amidst struggle, pain and difficult circumstances, the kindest of spirits can prevail and teach the most powerful of lessons, how to love.MORE STORIES ON KHALESSI:

My heart is broken today💔 Khalessi died this morning. I can’t even explain how sad I am. She was an inspiration to so…Posted by WFLA Melanie Michael on Thursday, June 23, 2016