The job of a rescuer is anything but simple. It doesn’t stop at saving a dog, but continues with everything that follows.
Dogs need proper care, a safe place to live, nutritious meals, medical help, and guidance in how to interact with others. Some, especially those who have lived on the streets, even need serious grooming before they can fully recover.
Maurice, a tiny pup found in Los Angeles, California, is a perfect example. When he was rescued, his fur was so matted he could barely open his eyes.
Discovered Just In Time
Suzette Hall, who runs Logan’s Legacy based in Irvine, California, was in the middle of another mission when she received an urgent call. Her friend Sandra had spotted a dog in terrible shape who needed help right away.
Since Hall couldn’t get there quickly, volunteers Karla, Yamileth, and Nunez Aky went in her place to look for the dog.
They eventually found the little dog, later named Maurice, hiding beneath a parked car. He was terrified, and his fur was so overgrown it completely covered his face.
“Poor baby covered in dreadlocks and carrying a heavy past of never knowing love,” Hall wrote in a Facebook post.
Rescuers learned that Maurice had been living on the streets with a homeless individual. His appearance showed the toll that neglect had taken, and it was clear he didn’t trust anyone.
Instead of running to his rescuers, he tucked himself even deeper under the vehicle.
“I feel in my heart that he suffered a lot in the hands of a homeless person because the owner said that he had left for a long time and came back but didn’t let anyone touch him,” Aky wrote on Facebook.
The volunteers patiently tried to calm Maurice down using gentle words. When that didn’t work, they offered him treats, slowly earning his trust.
Little by little, he allowed them to gently slip a leash around his neck.
From that moment on, everything changed.
Not only was Maurice safe, but he was finally on the path to a much better life.
A Makeover Reveals A Whole New Pup
Once Maurice was out of danger, Hall and her team took him to a vet clinic for a full checkup. After addressing his medical needs, there was one major task left – removing all the matted fur and giving him a fresh start.
It took a long grooming session and a team of dedicated people, but Maurice’s transformation was incredible. Hidden beneath the thick mats was an adorable little dog with the cutest underbite.
The entire rescue team was overjoyed when they saw the result. Maurice looked like a totally different pup, finally free to enjoy life the way he should.
“Today is the beginning of a whole new life. A past stripped away,” Hall stated in an update post.
With Hall’s help, Maurice was placed in a foster home where he’s getting the love and comfort he’s never known before.
Once the time is right, this sweet boy will be ready to find a forever home. After everything he’s endured, Maurice is finally discovering what it means to be a dog.