Matted hair of little Irie did not allow him to show his pretty face
Irie was a small bundle of matted fur when a local animal shelter took her in. Knots covered the terrified Maltese mix’s face and body, making her unrecognizable. She needed a makeover to feel more like herself again — and maybe find a home, too. So, just before Rhode Home Rescue took over Irie’s care, the shelter shaved her. And what they saw beneath the matted hair shocked them all.
“Animal control did an amazing job with her shave, ”told Hillary Gillinder, Irie’s foster. “She let them shave her for about 45 minutes before she started to feel stressed. They had to do the rest in short bursts there and at my house once she came home.”
No one knew much about Irie’s past or how her fur became so matted, but they did their best to chip away at the mess until her adorable face was finally revealed.
After they got rd of big chunks of hair, Irie still had some mats that they had to cut out with scissors. Now her hair is growing back and she’ll need another trim soon. In the meantime, she’s still working on learning how to trust those who care for her.
“She has a fear of boy dogs specifically and very fearful of men,” Gillinder said. “We’re not sure what exactly happened to her before she came to us, but all we can do now is help her grow and make up for it with love and kindness.”The 11-pound pup stays mostly quiet but does enjoy the occasional car ride or stuffed toy. Gillander also plays music to soothe her anxiety.
“I’m so proud of how far she’s come since I first got her,” Gillinder said. “She started not wanting to be near me and even barking at me through her crate. Now, she follows me everywhere and loves hopping up on the couch and rolling around in the soft blankets!”
In time, Irie will let her personality shine through but, at least now she won’t have mats weighing her down.
“It’s heartbreaking to think of everything she went through,” Gillinder said. “She’s gonna have a harder life than most dogs. But she will absolutely find her forever home.”
