September 20, 2024

๐“๐จ๐ฎ๐œ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐  ๐Œ๐จ๐ฆ๐ž๐ง๐ญ ๐š๐ฌ ๐‘๐ž๐ฌ๐œ๐ฎ๐ž๐ซ๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐  ๐‡๐จ๐ฉ๐ž ๐ญ๐จ ๐€๐›๐š๐ง๐๐จ๐ง๐ž๐ ๐ƒ๐จ๐ , ๐Ž๐ฅ๐ข๐ฏ๐ž๐ซ



With his once lustrous coat reduced to mere patches and his skin inflamed with a fiery redness, he looked like a shadow of his former self.

His body was covered with scratches and sores, the result of his desperate attempts to relieve the unbearable itch. Now confined to a cage, he trembled with fear and confusion, not knowing what his future held.

A Good Samaritan had just found him roaming the streets of Chicago and brought him to Chicago Animal Care and Control to get help. No one knew how long the 1-year-old dog had been out there โ€” but it was clear no one had cared for him in a very long time.

โ€œHe had the worst case of mange I have ever seen,โ€ Stephanie Lee, volunteer, and foster with the shelter told The Dodo. โ€œI walked by his cage and literally just started crying. He was shaking and licking his paws. Several spots on his body were bleeding because of how raw and infected it was.โ€

Thatโ€™s when Lee connected with Tanner Smith, a Knox County Humane Society shelter worker, to get Oliver out of the high-intake city shelter and into a loving foster home.

โ€œWhen I first saw him, I fell in love instantly.โ€ Smith told The Dodo. โ€œHe looked so bad. I knew we needed to help him.โ€

Despite the pain, Oliver was in, it was clear from the very beginning that all he wanted was to be loved. When shelter volunteers sat down on the ground with him, he started rolling all over them and his tail wouldnโ€™t stop wagging.

While Oliverโ€™s past is unclear, Lee and Smith believe he definitely belonged to someone before ending up on the streets.

โ€œHe was not malnourished when he was found.โ€ Lee said. โ€œIt seems like he was someoneโ€™s dog and they didnโ€™t take him to the vet when his skin started getting bad. They just dumped him when he didnโ€™t get better.โ€

After a full vet check, Oliver was diagnosed with Demodex mange as well as secondary skin infections. Lee and her husband, Johnny, set Oliver up with his very own room in their house and brought him to stay with them on April 4.

โ€œHe was so uncomfortable that heโ€™d just be tossing and turning all night.โ€ Lee said. โ€œHe really didnโ€™t sleep well for a while.โ€

Lee gave Oliver gentle baths every day with a medicated shampoo to help clear his skin up, and also rubbed lotions and coconut oil on him afterward to soothe the irritation.

โ€œMost dogs would try to escape the bath or get really stressed out.โ€ Lee said. โ€œBut he would just sit there very calmly like he knew that I was trying to help him. It was pretty awesome.โ€

After about four weeks of daily baths, ointments, and medication, Oliver finally made a breakthrough. His horribly irritated skin had begun clearing and he suddenly wasnโ€™t spending his days in pain.

He was actually smiling.

โ€œHe stopped trying to rub his body everywhere to get relief.โ€ Lee said. โ€œHe just opened up. He wanted love. He wanted to play. He wanted to go on walks. It was great to see him just be a normal, happy dog.โ€

As the days went on, Oliver kept getting better and better. He became obsessed with toys and even started going on runs with Lee. He became excited about meeting new people and other dogs, too.

โ€œHeโ€™s just a big puppy who wants to play.ยดยด Lee said. โ€œBut he can be super lovey and affectionate and cuddly.โ€

After six weeks with his foster parents, Oliver is finally mange-free and healthy.

Heโ€™s now looking for the perfect family to spend his days with โ€” a moment Lee and Smith are anxiously awaiting.

After seeing Oliverโ€™s strong will to recover, they canโ€™t wait for him to finally get the loving home he deserves.

โ€œItโ€™s like heโ€™s experiencing love for the first time.โ€ Smith said. โ€œAnd he just loves everyone right back.โ€


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