The fact that Argos is here at all is something of a miracle. Dumped before dawn at ARK in May, this white Japanese Akita, believed to be about 5 years old, was in horrific condition.

A staff member found him lying on his side, extremely underweight and with what looked to be acid burns over his entire body. Taken immediately to a veterinarian, it was learned that Argos had an immune-disorder disease that had allowed sarcoptic mange to take over. A very controllable condition, severe neglect and most likely ignorance that he could be helped at all, had no doubt allowed the condition to worsen to the point that most people would have chosen to put the dog down. Thankfully, everyone pulled together to help.

Named after the 100-eyed giant of Greek mythology, Argos was quarantined and, with proper medical attention and lots of love, slowly grew in strength as his condition improved. The dog we see now is a totally new animal with an extremely gentle nature, a heart of gold and what turned out to be a goofy and fun-loving personality.

His story is not over yet. Argos needs a quiet and loving home, one with little or no stress that will keep him at his best. We’re hoping, that in this season of magic, the miraculous tale of Argos will be complete.

If you are interested in adopting a new pet, email ARK at Tokyoark@arkbark.net or call 050-1557-2763 Monday to Saturday (bilingual) for more information. Tokyo ARK is an NPO founded by Briton Elizabeth Oliver. It is dedicated to rescuing and rehoming abandoned animals. All animals are vaccinated, neutered and microchipped. Prospective owners are requested to undergo a screening process. Web: www.arkbark.net.