Dog Spent 10-Years Chained Near a Cliff Before Rescuers Finally Saved Him

Maru’s Story: From a Cliffside Chain to Compassion

For ten long years, Maru’s world was heartbreakingly small—a short chain, a flimsy metal roof, and the constant threat of falling from the cliff where his “shelter” stood. Bought as a puppy and passed from one owner to another, he never knew love or comfort. Instead, his daily life was marked by isolation, hunger, and fear.

When the rescue group WEACT found him, they described the scene as one of the worst they had ever encountered. Despite the misery he had endured, Maru’s spirit hadn’t broken. He greeted rescuers with a wagging tail and a trusting smile, showing the kind of resilience only a dog’s heart can hold.

On the way to safety, Maru was both nervous and curious, his frailty clear beneath the mats of tangled fur. At first glance, he seemed bulky, but grooming revealed the heartbreaking truth—he was painfully thin, his body scarred, his teeth worn and missing. Years of neglect had also left him with stage-2 heartworms and rough, damaged skin. His coat, once an “armor” of matted tangles, concealed just how emaciated he truly was.

Yet through it all, Maru leaned into affection. He ate eagerly, relishing his first proper meals in years. For the first time in a decade, he was safe, warm, and cared for. His rescuers vowed to make his senior years the best chapter of his life, surrounding him with the love he had been denied for so long.

“WEACT will now become his family. We will ensure to provide him with happiness in a warm and safe environment,” the group shared.

Maru’s story is both devastating and inspiring. Though robbed of ten precious years, he never gave up hope. Now, at last, he is learning what it means to be cherished. His journey is a reminder that even in the face of unimaginable cruelty, resilience and kindness can transform a life.