Many abandoned and neglected dogs go ungroomed, which causes them anxiety since their fur becomes tangled and matted. However, a haircut may make all the difference.
That was the case recently, when a dog with severely matted fur received a makeover that gave him a new lease on life.
On July 16, the South Plains SPCA posted about the “worst case of dog neglect we have ever encountered.” A 6-year-old dog had highly matted, thick fur and was in terrible physical condition.
The SPCA reports that the dog has rotten skin spots, hair that has grown into the skin, and nails that are 2 inches long.
“His hair growth was about five years of matting,” explained Kim Moyers, president of the South Plains SPCA, to KLBK-TV. “It’s unfortunate that he likely caught sight of multiple locations yet remained unnoticed. ” Why no one has caught him roaming in his state is puzzling. I have never seen anything like him. “It was shocking.”
The South Plains SPCA took him in and called him Matt because of his matted fur. Despite his horrible state, they decided to patch him up and offer him a second opportunity.
Matt allegedly yelled in anguish every time they attempted to trim his hair, so they had to sedate him. They cut through a collar and leash entrenched in the hair and shaved off three pounds of fur, the result of five years of maltreatment.
His fur was matted with thousands of goathead stickers, sticks, grass, and even beetles. “He has severe bruises on his body as a result of his fur being too tight against his skin,” the SPCA noted. The dog was anemic and given medicine, but he tested negative for heartworms and tick illness (ticks couldn’t get through his thick fur).
Matt still has a long road to rehabilitation, and he will require dental work once his blood testing shows that it is safe.
But after removing all of that unpleasant fur, Matt’s life has already altered dramatically, and he looks like a brand new dog.
“After we had one of our professional groomers—who’s also an SPCA foster—groom him, he looked amazing,” Houston told People, a news publication. “He’s the most attractive dog I’ve ever seen.” He’s stunning.”
Matt was a “sweet boy” when he awoke after his grooming, according to the SPCA, and he’s been enjoying a happy, regular life ever since.
“He went for his very first walk without his bulk of hair in probably five years,” Houston told KLBK in an interview. “His tail was wagging, and he was ecstatic. His little bottom was going back and forth.”
Tori Houston is currently fostering Matt, and she plans to put him up for adoption once he recovers.
What an amazing makeover! We’re relieved that Matt is now secure, groomed, and on his way to a better life, despite his tragic long-term neglect and suffering from all that matted fur!