New Leash on Life

Rescue Dog Wins National Title, Has Yet to Win Heart of Forever Family

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Arlo was found by the side of a country highway. His rescuers didn’t know much about his life, but at about 10 years old, it was clear from his appearance he’d had a long rough road.

Once safe, he was quickly groomed to remove layers of filth and pounds of painful matted fur. Arlo’s transformation was so dramatic in fact, it won him the title of America’s Top Shelter Dog Makeover in the 2019 Dirty Dogs Contest. Arlo is now hoping his new look – and new title – will help him find a family of his own.

Arlo
Arlo was found by the side of a country highway and taken to the Lost Fantasy Rescue in Ceres, Va. He was quickly groomed to remove layers of filth and pounds of painful matted fur. Arlo’s transformation was so dramatic, it won him the title of America’s Top Shelter Dog Makeover in the 2019 Dirty Dogs Contest.

Could you be the family Arlo is looking for?  Arlo was found as a stray and when no one came to claim him, Lost Fantasy Rescue stepped up to take him in.  Arlo is about 10 years of age and may be a Lhasa Apso mix.  His current weight is 30 pounds. He is a mellow guy who likes to meander in the yard, sniffing the flowers and plants. He can tell you when he needs to go outside to potty. He is a sweet boy who plays well with the other bigger dogs in his foster home. He loves treats and will bark at you when it is dinner time! He may be 10 but he enjoys a good game with a tug toy and even plays with his much younger foster brother who lets him win. Click here to learn more about Arlo.

It’s stories like Arlo’s that inspire the annual Dirty Dogs contest from pet industry leaders Wahl and GreaterGood.org. By spotlighting the influence grooming can have on dog adoption, and awarding the contest winners with grant money, it’s their hope more dogs will find forever homes.

“The general public will often walk by a severely matted dog in the shelters because it is unappealing to them,” explains Sarah Dutton, Founder and Program Executor of Lost Fantasy Rescue. “But once groomed, the same dog will have multiple people interested because they can now see the real dog that was hidden underneath. Plus the dog’s comfort level increases 1,000%.”

View before and after photos of the contest winners and finalists, as well as hundreds of other dog makeovers, in the Dirty Dogs Before & After Photo Gallery (dirtydogsgallery.com). And to help even more shelter dogs get a fresh start visit WahlUSA.com — for the month of August when you purchase a bottle of shampoo using the code BUY1GIVE1 a bottle of shampoo will also be donated to a shelter in need. Finally, stay up-to-date on grooming tips and fun pet news, by following Wahl Pets on FacebookInstagram and Twitter.

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