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Hamish the cocker spaniel has a back story that we may never know. We don't know if his previous owners abandoned him, or if he escaped, or if he was abused or maybe his owner was in an accident and Hamish got scared and ran. All we know is that the little dog had gone without proper care for a very, very long time.
San Antonio authorities received a call about an unknown animal struggling in the road. Police officers rolled up to the scene to find a small brown mass of matted fur stumbling around. To their surprise, the mass ended up being a dog. Based on these photos from the day he was found, we can see why there may have been confusion. Hamish's fur had gotten so matted and twisted that it made his body shape almost unidentifiable.
We had to stare for a moment before realizing that white spot in the second picture was the dogs nose!
Cocker Spaniel Rescue of Austin/San Antonio/Facebook
Cocker Spaniel Rescue of Austin/San Antonio/Facebook
The dog was immediately taken in to San Antonio Animal Care Services, who reached out to a cocker spaniel rescue once they figured out what he was. It took time, but eventually authorities were able to remove SIX POUNDS of matted and rotting fur from the dog. For reference, male cocker spaniels should weigh about 30 lbs. Hamish was incredibly underweight. At his current weight it would be like a 100 lb person carrying around 40 - 50 lbs of hair.
The rescue posted some shocking "before" shots.
As well as a short video of Hamish immediately after his cut. He looks thin and unsure, and like he has definitely been having a rough time... but at least Hamish is identifiable as a dog after his haircut.
The haircut - which Hamish had to be sedated for - was only the beginning. He was so underweight that you could see his ribs clearly. His nails were overgrown and twisted and his teeth were rotting. Vets believe Hamish's hair had grown so tangled that it prevented him from opening his mouth to eat properly, so the little dog was slowly starving to death inside of his fur prison. About 30 of his teeth needed to be removed because the starvation had rotted them.
His road to recovery wasn't going to be an easy one, but at least there were adorable pictures along the way. Hamish got a bed, made a friend, and is sporting some serious fashion! The clothes are adorable, but they also serve a purpose. He was so thin and malnourished that he had no body fat left to help regulate his temperature - he couldn't keep warm on his own.
Progress!
Cocker Spaniel Rescue of Austin/San Antonio/Facebook
Cocker Spaniel Rescue of Austin/San Antonio/Facebook
Cocker Spaniel Rescue of Austin/San Antonio/Facebook
Cocker Spaniel Rescue of Austin/San Antonio/Facebook
Cocker Spaniel Rescue of Austin/San Antonio/Facebook
Rescue workers believe Hamish should be ready for adoption soon. They think he is about 8 years old and say he's friendly, good with other dogs, and obviously he rocks a costume like a pro. People are absolutely in love with the little guy.
The comments section on all of his posts look like this:
Facebook
Facebook
Oh, and just as a bonus - it turns out Hamish will do pretty much anything for pizza. He's our kind of dog!
If you want to follow his story (or maybe apply to adopt him!) you can check out the rescue organization here.
H/T: Bored Panda, The Dodo, Facebook