A stray dog who was brought to a Chicago shelter almost cocooned in layers of matted fur has a new lease on life and everything in the world to smile about, thanks to a dedicated crew of volunteers.
Holland, a poodle-Maltese mix, was barely even recognizable when she was brought to the shelter in late September. Dirt and grime were deeply embedded in her fur, which bulged several inches thick in some places of her tiny little body.
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That’s what this poor pooch looked like when she was brought to the shelter on September 27; workers with the non-profit Trio Animal Foundation knew they had their work cut out for them.
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They worked for two hours to remove the fur, but it was so thick that they quickly realized scissors weren’t going to cut it: Holland would have to be sedated so she could receive a surgical groom.
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Surprisingly, Holland didn’t have any other major medical conditions other than extremely irritated skin, which was treated with antibiotics.
But she also had to receive pain medication, because the weight of all that matted hair made it painful to even walk. Still, she was well on the road to recovery …
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Next step: Emotional rehabilitation. As you’d expect, Holland was initially sullen and withdrawn after being on her own for so long.
So the folks at Trio Animal Foundation enlisted the help of one of their therapy dogs, a beautiful Doberman named Miller, to help bring the light of life back into her eyes.
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Success!
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“After weeks of TLC, medical treatments and emotional rehabilitation, we are so happy to announce that Holland has found her forever home!”the group wrote in a Facebook post in early November.
“Holland immediately bonded with her new mom and dad and they were head over heels for her… just look at the smile on her face! For that matter, look at the smile on all of their faces!â€
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Believe us when we say the video below is one of the happiest and most heartwarming things you’ll see all day. Just look at that big smile on sweet Holland’s face once all that nasty hair was cut away and she was able to bounce around freely! Share if you agree this is one of the greatest puppy makeovers ever!
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