When a small, white dog was found roaming the streets of Tampa, it was clear it had been a long time since he was loved.
Wrapped in matted hair , the pup was brought to the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, according to a Feb. 7 Facebook post.
His mats pulled on his skin, and the rescue learned he was heartworm positive, according to the post.
Staff members named him Wylar and pulled out their grooming equipment.
“Based on his teeth, we are estimating Wylar is about 1.5 years old,” Regan Blessinger, a spokesperson for the humane society told McClatchy News in an email. “Matting like that does not happen quickly so either he was a stray for a very long time, or not being properly cared for in a home.”
In order to get all the mats cut away, Wylar was sedated by the veterinary team and shaved, the rescue said.
As the fur fell to the ground, he was instantly relieved of the pain — and started to show his personality.
“Wylar craved attention and affection, immediately crawling into staff’s laps,” the rescue said.