Matted Tibetan Mastiff Rescued In Chicago Sheds 30 Pounds Of Fur And Finds A New Lease On Life
Sprout, a beautiful Tibetan Mastiff from Chicago, Illinois, has a story that’s as tangled as her past.
Just a couple of months ago, this sweet girl was alone, dragging her heavily matted fur through the harsh streets of Chicago.
Thankfully, concerned locals spotted her struggling at a busy intersection and quickly contacted Chicago Animal Care & Control.
That was the moment everything changed for Sprout, marking the start of a new chapter in her life!
The moment Sprout saw the Chicago Animal Care & Control officers approaching, she made her way toward them, as if sensing help was finally on the way.
She climbed into their vehicle on her own, clearly relieved that someone had come to her rescue.
The officers quickly contacted One Tail At A Time, a dedicated pet rescue based in Chicago, to inform them of Sprout’s condition.
They welcomed her with open arms, eager to help.
However, when the rescue team saw her up close, they realized Sprout’s condition was beyond severe – this wasn’t just an ordinary case of matting.
As Alli, one of the employees, recalled in an interview:
“Her condition was by far the worst case of matting that we’ve ever seen.”
According to Alli, Sprout had such difficulty walking due to the matted fur that weighed her down.
The poor dog could only move one painful step at a time, clearly exhausted, and likely waiting for the moment she could finally be relieved from the burden she’d been carrying for who knows how long.
The only part of her body that wasn’t matted was her snout – a small area that still showed her sweet face.
Alli and the rest of the rescue team did their best to offer comfort and reassurance, gently letting Sprout know that better days were ahead.
After some initial calming interactions, they decided to sedate her to make the grooming process easier and more comfortable for both Sprout and the staff.
The grooming process took several hours, and the shelter staff was incredibly gentle, careful not to accidentally harm sweet Sprout.
When they finished, they weighed the fur they had shaved off – and the total was a staggering 32 pounds of matted hair!
Can you imagine that? That’s like carrying around an extra dog!
Once she woke up, Sprout immediately felt lighter and more comfortable.
Her first few steps were a bit wobbly, especially when she tried to climb the stairs, but before long, she found her footing and was moving around with much more ease.
Luckily, Sprout already had a foster family waiting for her, so she didn’t have to spend too long at the shelter.
As she settled into her new foster home, her true personality really started to shine.
It became clear that Sprout was a happy, affectionate dog – one who loved to cuddle and play with anyone she cared about!
As the shelter shared updates about Sprout on their Facebook and Instagram, it didn’t take long for people to fall head over heels in love with her.
They received numerous adoption applications while Sprout was in foster care, but only one lucky family was chosen.
And just like that, sweet Sprout found her forever home with Nicole and David, a couple from Chicago who already had a Tibetan Mastiff named Wally.
Not only did Sprout gain a loving human family, but she also gained a canine brother in Wally!
I think we can all agree that sweet Sprouty truly earned her happy ending. Here’s to many more years of love and joy with her wonderful new family!
Oh, and I almost forgot – if you’d like to follow along with Sprout and her brother Wally, be sure to check out their Instagram!
