“He was so thankful and happy we groomed him. It’s like he knew we were helping him.”
No one knows for sure how Lucky came to be stuck in the middle of a busy Florida highway late Wednesday night, but it was evident from his state that he’s no stranger to adversity. His body was covered in a stunning mess of matted fur, implying that he had a tragic background.
Both are now behind him, due to the efforts of rescuers.
BGE Grooming, a pet salon in Seminole County, is owned and operated by Kari Falla. When she’s not grooming her clients’ dogs, Falla volunteers her time to give rescue animals a makeover in the hopes of attracting possible adopters. So, when Falla saw on Facebook that a Good Samaritan had spotted and rescued Lucky from the road in that horrible state only a short time before, she knew she had to help — even if it meant going back to work in the middle of the night.
“I realized the dog needed rescue IMMEDIATELY as soon as I saw the article,” Falla told The Dodo. “I contacted the dog’s finder and told them to meet me at my salon at 12 a.m. that same night, and I’d groom him for free.”
Lucky’s case was beyond poor for Falla, who is no stranger to rundown-looking pets.
She described the incident as “truly the most horrific circumstance I’ve ever witnessed in my life.” “He reeked of death. He was unable to walk. He was unable to poop. His entire body had the appearance of a mummified cast. Fleas had invaded him. From the matting, he had a very lengthy tether that appeared like an outside leash buried in his flesh.”
Despite this, she refused to dismiss his condition as hopeless.
Falla took his time releasing Lucky from his matted prison during the following three hours.
The dog’s true self began to emerge slowly but steadily.
By the time the grooming was finished at 3 a.m., it had been a long, arduous process that the dog had undergone without complaint.
“He was overjoyed and grateful that we groomed him,” Falla added. “It’s as though he sensed we were assisting him.”
This is the pelt Lucky abandoned.
When it was all said and done, this is how he appeared.
Lucky was then given a bath, possibly for the first time in his life.
Lucky was then transported to a veterinarian, who diagnosed him as blind and deaf. Despite the fact that he lacked a microchip to hunt down his owner, he is currently in good care.
It’s just been a few days since Lucky was rescued, but his life is already so much better than it was. He’s been taken in by a foster family to show him how a dog should be treated, and he’s already showing signs of improvement.
“Lucky is doing very well in his foster home!” Falla remarked. “Every day, he’s growing better.”
Lucky will be offered for adoption to a loving permanent home when the time comes for him to start a new life as a cherished pet.
Falla’s labor is made worthwhile when he sees a dog like Lucky undergo such a stunning physical and emotional transformation:
“We adore animals and are deeply committed to assisting those who are in need. We groom all shelter and rescue dogs for free and don’t hesitate to do so “she stated “Our salon’s slogan is that a little compassion can go a long way, and it saved a life in this situation. Nothing makes you happier than seeing a dog wag its tail in delight after being groomed. A simple haircut may make a huge difference. The dog who entered our salon gloomy, melancholy, matted, long neglected nails, dirty ears, now exits jumping up and down, tail waving, and feeling joyful and confident about themselves.”
And Lucky is no different.