Dogs Trust Ireland rescues dog so matted, he struggled to walk

Dogs Trust Ireland says it highlighting the worrying increase in the number of dogs needing help as they took in a dog whose coat was so badly matted; they were initially unable to tell if he was male or female.

Named Acorn by the charity, the dog was found wandering alone in Dublin, in late October.

A kind member of the public brought Acorn to Dogs Trust, as it was clear he needed urgent veterinary care.

The three-year-old male Poodle Cross (pictured above) had such severely matted fur, he was unable to walk properly.

As the charity began to clip away his tangled coat, they discovered an old dog toy embedded within the clumps of hair, suggesting he was once a much-loved pet.

Due to Acorn’s level of discomfort, he needed to be sedated by the veterinary team at Dogs Trust to completely shave his coat.

Veterinary and Welfare Manager Niamh Curran-Kelly, stated: “Although Acorn was showing signs that he really wanted affection from those around him, his heavily matted fur was causing him a lot of discomfort and distress.

“We removed almost a kilo of matted fur from him, which is an awful lot to carry around on his 14-kilo body.

“Dogs with coats like Acorn’s need regular grooming and sadly, this is something many people do not consider when they decide to welcome a dog into their home.”

While Acorn is in the process of being adopted, the charity is appealing to the public for their support, so that they can be there for the next dog like Acorn who urgently needs them.

Dogs Trust recently launched their ‘Save the Next Dog’ campaign highlighting the worsening dog crisis in Ireland.

This year, the charity received the highest volume of surrender requests since opening the doors to their rehoming centre in 2009.

With 3,691 people contacting Dogs Trust since January, the charity fears that more dogs like Acorn could end up being abandoned, as rescues and welfare organisations struggle to cope with the demand for their services.

To find out more about the how you can help, please see www.DogsTrust.ie/Crisis