**UPDATE** Betty and Wilma were adopted to a loving family on the weekend, we wish these two special ladies a wonderful new life.
Staff could not believe their eyes or noses when stray Maltese/West Highland Terrier crosses, dubbed Betty and Wilma, arrived at the Home.
Picked up by one of the Home’s ambulances the smell from their overgrown, damp and severely matted coats was overwhelming.
It’s a condition of neglect seen far too often at the Home. We believe that people fall in love with these cute, white fluffy breeds as puppies and purchase them without properly understanding the commitment and investment in regular grooming they are taking on.
Long haired breeds like Maltese, Shitzus and Poodles need to be clipped every two to three months by a groomer, at an average cost of $80 per visit.
“We estimate their age to be three years and believe these poor little dogs have never been clipped in their lives,” said General Manager Sue Conroy.
“It’s when you are confronted with neglect cases like Betty and Wilma’s that you realise the value of the Home’s Pet Licence program to educate new owners of what their responsibilities will be to their pets.”
Both Betty and Wilma would have suffered considerably during hot weather over summer, as the thick matted hair would not have allowed for any air flow. It would have been like wearing a thick woollen jumper on a 40 degree day.
The recent heavy rains had left their coats damp and soggy. It would have taken them days to dry out not to mention the constant irritation of the matted hair pulling on their skin. It’s hard to imagine that Betty and Wilma would not have felt anything but discomfort for a very long time.
To remove their matted coats staff member Cas had to carefully clip close to the skin, such was the depth and size of their mats. In cases of severe neglect like Betty and Wilma it’s not uncommon to find embedded grass seeds that have caused painful sores or irritated skin conditions. Fortunately for these two, this wasn’t the case.
Betty was first to have her make over and was visibly relieved as she strutted around after her bath. “It was so obvious in the way she moved that she felt better, more free and I am sure a whole lot lighter” said Cas . However, Wilma still awaiting her clip and bath did not immediately recognise her best mate when she was returned to the pen.
Predictably, Betty and Wilma’s owner did not come forward to claim them so both dogs are now in need of a new, loving home. They are both friendly, happy dogs and enjoy a pat and cuddle, even more so now they don’t smell so bad!
However, they are very fond of each other and do fret when they are separated. Therefore the Home is looking for a special owner who is willing to take on two dogs, can commit to clipping them every two to three months for the rest of their lives and make sure they are protected from the sun while their coats grow back.
Betty and Wilma are available to adopt from our North Melbourne shelter, and are desexed, vaccinated, microchipped, wormed and health checked. Please call (03) 9329 2755 and quote tag numbers NEK313 and NEK312 if you are interested in giving the pair a new home.
To make sure you are a responsible owner and to get a discount of $30 off the adoption price you may want to take our online Pet Licence test.
