Rescue dog transformed after 6 pounds of matted fur is trimmed
Simon, a stray Shih Tzu, is waiting to be happily rehomed after suffering from a life-threatening bad hair day.
The nearly 11-year-old dog was brought in to KC Pet Project in Kansas City, Missouri, earlier this week after being found with a debilitating case of matted fur — which added more than 6 pounds to his 14-pound frame. The giant clumps of tightly woven locks left the poor pup barely able to walk or see.
Shih Tzus are prone to matted coats as their long locks can become tangled over time if not properly brushed and washed.
Vets at KC Pet Project gave the weary pooch a new life as they reportedly spent two hours “tedious[ly]” cutting through his mass of fur, according to a video the organization shared on TikTok which has drawn nearly 30 million views since Tuesday. They hope the post’s popularity will help Simon find a new home.
“This 11-year-old Shih Tzu came in today in possibly one of the worst matted cases we have ever seen,” said one of the rescuers on TikTok. “We can only guess how long it took for him to get into this condition, but one thing we know for sure is that life is about to get so much better for this boy.”
A person in the video can be seen holding discarded clumps of fur, each nearly the size of their hand. The clip shows that Simon was evidently sedated during the shocking ordeal.
The person added that the dog was in “surprisingly good shape” and “relatively healthy,” though Simon is having to relearn how to get around without the handicap.
“Simon has a couple of minor medical concerns, including chronic dry eye,” a KC Pet Project tech said in a follow-up video. “He is in desperate need of dental work.”
“And, because of the matted fur and how long he had it, he over-corrected his stride, so he doesn’t walk quite right yet, but we hope it will correct itself over time,” they added.
“Even though Simon has been through a lot in his lifetime, he is still a very happy dog,” they said.