Animal Angels Rescue Foundation (AARF), a non-profit rescue group, received an urgent call about a stray dog wandering the streets of Las Vegas in a heartbreaking state.
The little pup was so severely neglected that rescuers described it as one of the worst cases they had ever encountered.
The matting was so extreme that no one could determine the dog’s gender. To give him an identity, they chose a neutral name: Blythe.
It was clear from his filthy, overgrown coat that Blythe had been alone and struggling for a long time. The sight was truly devastating.
A Dramatic Transformation
Despite the heartbreak of seeing him like this, AARF wasted no time in stepping in to help. How could anyone allow an innocent animal to suffer this way?
Though Blythe had endured unimaginable pain, his rescue marked the beginning of a new chapter filled with hope.
He was immediately taken off the streets and rushed to a veterinarian for urgent 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 team shaved his fur, gave him a soothing medicated bath, and trimmed his nails. At last, they could confirm that Blythe was male. Without the heavy mats weighing him down, he looked like a completely different dog.
Although he already felt more comfortable, the vet soon discovered that Blythe was dealing with serious health issues. His time on the streets had left deep scars.
He was badly dehydrated, malnourished, and covered in itchy, painful skin infections. Urine trapped in his coat had burned and infected his skin. His back teeth were worn down to the roots from eating stones and rocks in a desperate attempt to survive.
On The Road To Healing
After receiving his first treatments, Blythe’s sweet personality began to shine through. He quickly showed how friendly and happy he really was, winning over everyone he met.
The vet estimated that Blythe was no more than two years old and suspected that he may have been used for breeding before ending up on the streets.
At first glance, many thought he was a Shih Tzu, but later it was determined that he was more likely a Poodle and Terrier mix.
“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 medical steps included neutering and a difficult dental surgery at Park Animal Hospital. The procedure was extensive, and 11 of his back teeth had to be removed due to severe decay and exposed roots.
Although the surgery was tough, it will relieve him from the constant pain he endured from broken and damaged teeth.
Now recovering in his foster home, Blythe is on his way to becoming pain-free for the first time in his life.
“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 is confident that, after a little more time to heal and adjust, Blythe will be ready to find his forever home. He deserves nothing less than a safe, loving environment where he will never be neglected again.
His journey from extreme suffering to hope and healing stands as a powerful reminder of the importance of compassion, rescue work, and second chances.