Seventeen Dogs Pulled From Severe Neglect
Last year, 17 dogs rescued from a hoarding case arrived at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah. They had been neglected for years, and each one was burdened by thick, painfully matted fur.
“This is definitely the worst case [of matting] I have seen”, said Jenny Dolan, a senior lifesaving care specialist at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. “We do frequently get dogs coming in with mats, but this was so severe.”
A Gentle Dog Who Stood Out
Among the rescued dogs, Crawfish immediately stood out to Dolan because of his sweet and gentle nature. While many dogs with traumatic pasts are understandably fearful of humans, Crawfish warmed up to Dolan right away.
Crawfish’s fur had grown so excessively that he could barely see. Its sheer weight prevented him from walking, and even standing was a struggle.
A Long, Careful Grooming Session
Determined to help Crawfish feel better as quickly as possible, Dolan and a team of caretakers began shaving off his mats. After hours of deliberate, careful grooming, Crawfish was finally free of the heavy coat he had carried for years.
“We didn’t know what [he] looked like under all that hair”, Dolan said.
Beneath the filthy, knotted mats was a beautiful light-brown coat—and, more importantly, a dog who could finally breathe, move, and see again.
To Dolan’s relief, Crawfish didn’t have any major health issues. She was amazed by how quickly he recovered and began showing off his playful, curious side.
“He’s very affectionate”, Dolan said. “We were surprised.”
Learning Life for the First Time
Crawfish needed guidance with even the simplest life skills: walking on a leash, getting into cars, lying on a bed. Even eating treats was something he had to figure out.
“I would hand him a dog treat and he’d crunch into it, and most of the biscuit would fall on the ground,” Dolan recalled. “But he didn’t care. He was just so happy he got a treat.”
Every day brought a new experience, and Crawfish approached each one with enthusiasm.
“He was this happy-go-lucky guy”, Dolan said. “And nothing really scared him. He just was all, ‘This is the best day of my life. I can’t wait to do this. I don’t know what I’m doing, but I’m going to do it.’”
A Forever Home at Last
After a few months at the sanctuary, Crawfish reached another milestone: he was adopted by a loving family. Though Dolan found it difficult to say goodbye, she was thrilled to see him get the life he deserved.
“[He] has spent the last five months coming into his own”, said Gavin, Crawfish’s adopter.
Now, Crawfish spends his days practicing his new favorite activities, snacking on treats and lounging comfortably in bed, making up for all the years he never got to enjoy.