During a snowy drive through St. Louis, Donna Lochmann, the top dog at Stray Rescue, and her team had a unique encounter. While on the lookout for furry friends in need, a peculiar sight caught Donna’s eye from the cozy confines of her Jeep. A mysterious gray figure huddled beneath a white van, peeking out as it shifted its position. Uncertain of what creature lurked there, the compassionate crew parked their ride and sprang into action to lend a hand.
When the rescuers approached the animal, they were puzzled by its appearance. Donna described how the creature’s long hair made it difficult to distinguish its features, but upon closer inspection, they discovered it was a dog with severely tangled fur. The matted fur was causing the dog pain, especially as it was wet from the snow and had fused to the concrete.
The rescuers from Stray Rescue of St. Louis found the poor dog frozen to the pavement, his neglected fur filled with feces, urine, and ice. Donna didn’t hesitate to crawl under the van, gently sliding a leash over the dog’s neck, and speaking to him in a soothing tone in an attempt to coax him out.
“He let out a loud cry… Yet Donna managed to skillfully and patiently guide him into the cozy Jeep,” stated the post. The team then gently wrapped the little fellow in a snug blanket, carefully placed him in the car, and drove him to the St. Louis hospital. Upon reaching the vet’s office, he was scheduled for a complete examination; however, the doctors faced difficulty due to his tangled fur. “Removing the mats was quite the task. It’s a time-consuming process when the fur is that tangled,” Donna explained.
On Facebook, it was shared that the group of dedicated veterinarians began the process of carefully shaving off Pilgrim’s tangled mats using electric clippers. Their main concern was to not cause any harm to the pup. After spending some time at the vet’s office, Pilgrim emerged free from his messy hair. The person sharing the story expressed how relieved Pilgrim must have felt after getting rid of about six pounds of hair, making him feel much better.
On Facebook, the vets discovered an injury on Pilgrim’s back leg as they shaved off his mats. A later X-ray revealed a broken pelvis, leading to surgery for the pup. After just three weeks, Pilgrim fully recovered and was ready to go into foster care, a new and healthy dog.
Fresh Start
Taylor and Joe, a delightful couple, came across Pilgrim’s captivating life tale and made the decision to welcome him into their home as a temporary furry companion. Upon his arrival, Pilgrim immediately bonded with his new family, who already had a few four-legged members.
After getting to know the courageous pup more, the couple realized that fostering him was not enough – he belonged with them for good!
“Pilgrim has seamlessly integrated into our family, so we’ve decided to officially adopt him. He brings so much joy into our lives,” the couple shared in a heartfelt letter posted on social media.
From the moment he was adopted and renamed Oscar, Pilgrim has been enjoying the time of his life! He is now happily surrounded by wonderful people who enjoy playing with him, snuggling, and most importantly, grooming his fluffy fur. “He’s living a happy, cozy life and brings happiness to his family each and every day. We adore him!” SRSL shared in a recent update.