Near Penny Road Pond in Barrington, Illinois, USA, forest preserve officers discovered some unusual little creatures moving together like a flock of sheep.
On closer inspection, the officers realised they were actually looking at 15 small dogs with severely matted fur.
Abandoned by their owner
Given the urgency of the situation, the Cook County Animal and Rabies Control (ARC) department was called in to help.
Once on the scene, the officers managed to rescue the entire group. They believed the dogs had almost certainly been abandoned by their owner.
After a car journey, the dogs were welcomed at a shelter where the entire staff was ready to help.
As reported by The Dodo, the pups were kept in groups of five, with blankets in their kennels.
The next day, the staff began the task of transforming the dogs, who were identified as Shih Tzu crosses between 2 and 6 years old.
Unrecognisable animals
The staff decided it would be too dangerous to shave and wash the dogs while they were awake, as some had mats bigger than tennis balls.
So, the vets waited a few days before anaesthetising them for a stress-free grooming session, which was done at the same time as their neutering procedures.
The dogs were unrecognisable. Thanks to a joint effort between several shelters, all the dogs were placed in foster homes. "They can now explore the world at their own pace and learn to be the dogs they were meant to be," explained Shelby Golonka, medical director of Tiny N Tall Rescue.
We sincerely hope that all of these little dogs will soon find their forever homes.
