Animal Angels Rescue Foundation, a small non-profit based in Las Vegas, received an urgent report about a stray wandering the city in heartbreaking condition.
The tiny dog was in such advanced neglect that the team considered it one of the most extreme situations they had ever faced.
His coat was matted so tightly that no one could even determine whether the stray was male or female. Wanting to give the pup a name before they knew more, the rescuers settled on a neutral choice, Blythe.
One glance at his filthy, overgrown fur made it painfully clear that Blythe had been struggling alone for far longer than anyone could guess, and the sight left the team shaken.
A Struggle Finally Interrupted
Even though it was difficult to witness the shape he was in, AARF acted immediately to help him. It was hard to understand how a dog could be left to endure so much hardship.
Blythe had survived tremendous discomfort, yet the moment rescuers stepped in marked the start of something better for him.
He was taken off the streets without delay and brought straight to a veterinarian who could begin critical care.
“The vet wasn’t sure this kid even had two eyes, the matting was so bad,” the rescue wrote in their Facebook post.
The veterinary staff removed the tangled fur, bathed him with soothing medicated shampoo, and clipped his nails.
Once the heavy matting was gone, they could finally confirm that Blythe was male, and for the first time he resembled the dog he had always been beneath the mess.
Although he looked and felt lighter, the examination revealed that Blythe was facing several serious medical concerns. His time surviving alone had taken a deep toll.
He was severely dehydrated and underweight, and his skin was inflamed and irritated from infections. The urine trapped inside his coat had burned and damaged his skin. His back teeth were worn almost to the roots because he had chewed rocks and stones while searching for anything he could eat.
Stepping Into A Safer Life
Once the first treatments were completed, Blythe’s gentle nature began to emerge. He quickly showed how affectionate and cheerful he truly was, winning over the entire staff.
The veterinarian estimated that Blythe was likely under two years old and believed he might have been used for breeding before being abandoned.
At first, people assumed Blythe was a Shih Tzu, but later the team learned that he was more likely a mix of Poodle and Terrier.
“He was a little scared and confused leaving the vet today but once he went into his fosters home and met the other dogs and kids, that smile on his face is permanent. He is one very happy kid! I’m sure he is relieved never having to live outdoors like that again…,” the Nevada-based rescue wrote in an update.
Blythe’s next phase of medical care involved neutering and a challenging dental procedure at Park Animal Hospital. The dental work was extensive, and eleven damaged back teeth had to be extracted due to severe decay and exposed roots.
Although the process was difficult, it removed the constant pain those broken teeth had caused for so long.
Now resting in his foster home, Blythe is experiencing the closest thing to comfort he has ever known and is finally moving toward a life free from persistent pain.
“If he can make it through what he’s been through for who knows how long, this is going to be nothing for him,” Animal Angels Rescue Foundation member Reegan Tabor told KLAS-TV.
The rescue team believes that once Blythe has fully recovered and settled into his newfound safety, he will be ready to search for a permanent family. He deserves a home where he will be cared for and never experience neglect again.
His path from severe hardship to renewed possibility serves as a reminder of how essential compassion and rescue efforts are for animals who have no voice of their own.