On the afternoon of October 26, teachers at a Detroit school contacted Detroit Dog Rescue after seeing a severely matted dog running loose in the vicinity. It was a rainy, gloomy day with temps in the low 40’s.
When they caught sight of the pitiful pooch, the volunteers vowed to do whatever it took to bring him in out of the cold. They snapped the following picture of him moments before his rescue.
Detroit Dog Rescue has described the case of the sweet dog they named Professor as one of the worst cases of neglect they have ever seen. He was immediately taken to the rescue’s veterinarian for emergency treatment.
Unfortunately, Professor’s matting was so severe that the veterinary staff couldn’t even get to his body to do a thorough exam. They decided to put him under anesthesia to shave away the mass of hair and fecal matter.
It is always a bit risky to anesthetize an animal without knowing their medical history, but in Professor’s case, there was simply no other choice. They could not care for him without removing the hair; and they could not remove all that hair without anesthesia.
Professor’s caretakers could tell he had pneumonia from his heavy breathing, so they raced against the clock to shave him down as quickly as possible and remove him from anesthesia. Luckily he made it through the procedure just fine.
After a warm bath, antibiotics for his pneumonia, and other medications to make him more comfortable, Professor is a completely new dog! He still has a long road to recovery ahead of him, but one thing is for sure, he will never be neglected or left out in the cold again!
Thank you to the amazing volunteers at Detroit Dog Rescue, the veterinary staff who are caring for Professor, and everyone who has expressed their emotional and financial support for this baby’s recovery!
Update:
Professor has since been adopted, and is being spoiled rotten by his new family! He has since been renamed “Coconut,” and his fur has grown into a gorgeous, fluffy coat!
We’re so happy that he’s doing better than ever, and will spend the rest of his life loved! See the photos in the post below!
Toledo, United States.
