A heavily matted and abandoned dog was found in the streets of Los Angeles, California, hiding from the scorching heat under a car. A group of Good Samaritans, however, encountered the animal and decided to take action, giving him a haircut and a bath, potentially the first in years.
The sad scene was shared on Facebook by Suzette Hall. She often shared stories such as these from rescuers around the country, which, in the case of the dog in question, were Arturo and Dora.
The couple found the dog, who was labeled a “precious soul,” hiding underneath a car. The dog, Suzette said, was “suffering in silence,” protecting himself from the Los Angeles heat.
During the writing of this article, a large portion of Los Angeles had been placed in an extreme heat watch. Potential temperatures up to 88 degrees were reported, which, of course, is very dangerous, especially for street dogs such as the one mentioned above.
Dog Rescued
Arturo and Dora came across the dog hiding in the shadow of the car. The very first thing they saw, of course, was the dog’s severe matting.
This, according to Suzette, made identifying the dog as a male or female impossible. Most importantly, the amount of fur can be dangerous for dogs, as it can limit their mobility as they are weighed down.
Matting may also lead to skin irritation, infections, poor blood circulation, and pain, among other conditions, as per Fetch Me Later. Therefore, regular brushing and hiring a professional groomer is a must to prevent a tragedy.
Matting Gone
Unfortunately for the dog that Arturo and Dora found, he had no one to help him with his matting. That didn’t last long, as the team took him to a veterinarian to be treated.
The matting was so severe that the dog had to be sedated to remove it. Apparently, the fur had been growing and tangling uncontrollably for years.
“Sweet baby, you don’t have to suffer alone anymore. We heard you. We found you. And you are finally safe,” Suzette said.
After the matting was shaved off, the dog was confirmed to be a male, Suzette said in an update. The process was long, evidencing the amount of neglect that the dog had been subjected to.
An Abandoned Boy
However, the most heartbreaking aspect of this case is that the dog had a microchip. This means that, apparently, years ago, the animal had been abandoned.
The Los Angeles team attempted to contact the dog’s owners. No one answered, and Suzette called this level of neglect abuse.
Currently, the dog, who is around 11 years old, also faces other challenges. These include a fatty lump and eye issues.
Fortunately for him, it appears that the long days hiding from the sun under cars are finally over. Hopefully, he will find a family that will provide him with the love he needs in his future forever home.