St. Louis, Missouri – Animal rescuers in Missouri were heartbroken to see the state of this emaciated dog, but what happened next left them totally speechless!

The brown Pitbull named Valkyrie has suffered for a long time. By the time she arrived at the Stray Rescue of St. Louis, she was just a shadow of her former self.

She should weigh around 50 pounds, but the scale reads just 33 pounds.

"She's so skinny that you can see all of her ribs, her hip bones…her skull is even sunken in by her eyes," rescuers explained on Facebook.

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No one knows how long Valkyrie has survived on the streets, but it quickly became clear how desperately she has fought to stay alive.

When she suddenly vomited in the examination room, shocking contents emerged: trash and pieces of plastic!

Apparently, she swallowed everything she could find on the street in an attempt to get any food.

But that's not all: Valkyrie is covered in fleas, her claws are far too long, and she has a tumor on her mammary gland.

Physically, the dog is in a catastrophic condition. Mentally, she seems to have given up long ago.

Then, veterinarian Dr. Ortiz arrives. She tries to soften Valkyrie's heart, gently approaching the frightened dog and giving her a gentle kiss on the nose.

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What happens next moves the entire team.

Valkyrie closes her eyes and lets out a deep sigh. Instead of pulling away, she accepts the affection and even leans into the people.

"She was unsure of us but first, but started to lean into affection in no time at all," SRSL wrote. "She craves it."

After all the time filled with fear and deprivation, Valkyrie finally seems to understand that she is safe.

And there's more good news: Since beginning treatment, the dog's condition has already improved.

While she still has a way to go before reaching a healthy weight, she is now stable enough to move to a foster home. From there, she will transition to a permanent home.