Ellie Mae was first brought in to the Nebraska Humane Society in terrible condition.
She had been found in her owner's apartment after they died, and with over 4kg of matting, she couldn't even walk.
"We didn't know if it was alive"
"They had to carry her in a bag because Ellie was unable to walk", explained Wiese who runs the humane society. "We had a hard time determining what kind of animal it was at first... and we didn't know if it was still alive. Until it moved its head".
The little dog was taken directly into surgery, to have the matting removed under anaesthesia. But what would normally have been straightforward procedure was extremely risky, as the vet team couldn't determine Ellie's weight under all her fur.
Thankfully, the nurse's estimate was right. An hour later, Ellie Mae was an incredible 4kg lighter. And underneath all the matting was a very sweet Shih Tzu.
Happy and healthy
Now tangle free, rescue workers and vet staff were delighted to find that Ellie Mae was actually in relatively good health.
Aside from some dental issues and muscle atrophy caused by her inability to walk, the gentle girl was lively and very affectionate.
Completely unrecognisable from when she first came in, the team couldn't wait to find Ellie Mae the perfect home.
