Sadly, Suzette has seen dogs in all kinds of terrible conditions: beaten, sick, injured, neglected, and even carrying pounds of matted fur on their backs.
This was certainly the case for poor Darla. On 8th May, Suzette was called to help a dog who was wandering in a Los Angeles neighbourhood.
A worrying sight
The dog's coat was very dirty and matted. What's more, she was wearing a small jumper that must have once been white but was now filthy. The jumper worried Suzette, as she feared it might be hiding something much worse underneath.
When she arrived, the dog froze on the spot, unwilling to follow her rescuer to the car. Suzette returned the next day with a fellow rescuer. The dog had taken shelter in the garden of a house where the residents had been leaving out fresh water and food for her.
A shocking discovery
So, when the rescuers approached to slip a lead around her neck, they expected Darla to react with fear and try to run away again. But the complete opposite happened... The dog let them, and even wagged her tail happily.
The rescuers were able to take Darla to the vet. There, the staff removed her jumper... which was indeed hiding a terrible, infected wound. They shaved off Darla's matted, dirty fur and began to treat her injury.
A week after her rescue, she is in much better shape, as you can see in the photos below. Suzette is certain: it won't be long before Darla is adopted!
