Some dogs go endure a lot of hardship throughout life, suffering from human neglect. But , there are other people in the world eager to give these dogs a second shot and the love they deserve.

That’s the story of one dog that went through so much but never lost her smile — and now finally has something to genuinely smile about.

Last month, No canine Left Behind, a Minnesota canine rescue, presented the story of a dog nicknamed “Smile,” named because she constantly has a smile on her face.

But while she looks happy, Smile has actually been through a lot of bad moments. She was rescued from a hoarding situation in Tijuana, Mexico. The rescue uncovered 23 dogs and 21 cats suffering from horrible living conditions.

No Dog Left Behind reported that although the homeowner had good intentions, she became overwhelmed by the circumstances and the dogs began to breed and spread disease. “Many were pregnant and most had contracted sarcoptic mange, a highly contagious and painful skin disease.”

While Smile’s condition was quite modest, she had some mange that caused her pain. She also suffered tick-borne infections. She was also found to be pregnant, but lost her puppies owing to the abuse and anxiety. “It breaks our heart for her,” the rescue added.

No Dog Left Behind began treating Smile’s physical concerns, knowing they were meant to give her the second chance she deserved. “We fell in love with the hope we saw in her eyes. Smile was supposed to join our rescue,” they wrote on Facebook.

Despite the hardship and sadness, Smile was now on the road to a better life, and never lost her huge infectious grin. “Even with the pain and discomfort, Smile is soo incredibly grateful and trusting. She understands that life will be better from here on out,” they wrote.

Smile made a great impression on the rescue’s workers, especially NDLB’s operations manager Stephanie Easley, who claims that Smile “captured [her] heart.”

Once Smile was completed with quarantine for her skin problem, Stephanie stepped up to foster the dog. She said it’s been a terrific experience and Smile is even more full of delight in her new foster home.

“The moment I open my eyes, she’s already looking at me and, of course, smiling,” Stephanie told The Dodo. “The genuine love in her eyes is what makes her the most special dog I’ve ever met. They’re expressive … you know precisely what she’s thinking or feeling just by looking at them.”

Their foster status is just temporary, and Stephanie feels her home isn’t exactly the ideal “forever home” for Smile. But she believes that there is a perfect home out there for this wonderful dog.

“My hope is that she’ll receive a family that is as crazy about her as mine is, [one] that makes her smile and look at them with all the love in her eyes,” she told The Dodo.