Although a dog is man’s best friend, not everyone deserves the loyalty and love of these noble creatures.
The employees at the RSPCA saw this firsthand when police officers brought in a severely neglected and matted dog, taken away from an irresponsible owner.
This poor dog, named Barney, was in such bad shape that it was hard to even tell if there was a dog underneath all that tangled fur.
The sight left the RSPCA staff in shock, but they were determined to help this little guy feel like a dog again. It was the least they could do after everything he’d been through.
Heavily Matted and Neglected
When the RSPCA team took a closer look, they couldn’t believe what they saw. Barney’s fur was an extreme mess, with large, dirty clumps bound tightly around his back.
“He was extremely matted, with big clumps of fur hanging off him that appeared to be full of dirt or feces and tightly bound to areas around his back,” RSPCA Inspector Tina Nash said in her statement.
Barney’s condition was a direct result of neglect by his owner, Tim Ronald Springett, who tried to justify his actions by claiming that as a Black Russian Terrier, Barney didn’t need grooming.
But it was clear that wasn’t the case. Barney’s overgrown fur completely covered his eyes, and the sheer weight of his coat caused him pain every time he walked.
A Mountain of Fur
Determined to help, the RSPCA team gave Barney the grooming session of a lifetime, which took quite a while to complete.
When they were done, they were shocked to discover they had removed a whopping 17 pounds of fur!
“The dog had been made to support a coat weighing approximately 21% of his body weight as he moved around,” a vet stated. “The weight of this coat would have risen considerably when the dog was wet.”
This was clear proof of the 19 months of neglect Barney had endured without a single grooming session.
Justice Served
After so much time in the dark, Barney finally emerged into the light. His rescuers were thrilled to see his happy smile, and Barney’s heart seemed full as he soaked up the love and attention he deserved.
According to the RSPCA, “Barney is now in private boarding, and he will be available for rehoming.” There’s no doubt that this beautiful boy will soon find his forever home.
As for Barney’s former owner, Tim was taken to court to face the consequences of his neglect.
Although he claimed illness prevented him from caring for Barney, the court wasn’t buying it.
Tim received a five-year ban from owning animals, a 12-month community order, and was ordered to pay $500 in costs and a $120 victim surcharge.
In the end, justice was served. Now, all that remains is for Barney to find a loving new home where he’ll never be left in the dark again.