Life can be quite hard for many dogs, especially those that have been left behind by their humans. When this happens, these poor pooches fend for themselves and may live in dirt and misery.
Lionheart is one of those dogs. But his life gets a huge makeover after rescuers have saved him from his miserable living condition.
Living in dirt and sadness
Lionheart is a little dog that has overcome significant obstacles in life. Now, he has been rewarded for his strength and endurance. According to the Richmond Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the pup was surrendered to the shelter in April. Shelter volunteers were told that the dog was severely matted; he was covered in urine and feces.
What was even sadder was that the seven-year-old dog had spent the last two years living under a bed. The workers of the Richmond SPCA immediately worked to provide the dog with medical care and affection he’d been deprived of for a long time.
Still living with a brave heart
The first step to saving Lionheart is removing his dirty and painful mats covering him. The thick fur also kept him from walking and eating correctly.
The shelter staff spent almost three hours removing pounds of fur. After that, a small and cute pup was revealed.
Now free of the excess dirty fur, the veterinarians assessed him at Susan M. Markel Veterinary Hospital. It was found out that years of neglect had negatively affected the dog.
According to the veterinarians, after the dog was shaved and his nails were trimmed, they had to take care of the dog’s skin sores. Dental examinations revealed that he had periodontal disease. The vets also had to neuter Lionheart and treat him for parasites.
Lionheart’s story has a happy ending, though. Three months after arriving at the rescue shelter, Lionheart left the SPCA to live with his new and loving family.
Video Source: Richmond SPCA via YouTube