STERLING, Ill., Oct. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- October is Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, so it's the perfect time to recognize all the individuals who've dedicated their lives to helping homeless animals. And while rescue organizations work tirelessly, the sad truth is that fewer than half of these dogs are getting the grooming they need due to a lack of resources. The effects of neglect, or a life on the street, can often overshadow the beauty that lives inside these dogs, and too often they are overlooked by adoptive families. That's why pet industry leaders Wahl and Greater Good Charities have partnered once again for their 10th annual Dirty Dogs Contest. They donated grooming supplies, and in turn, rescues and shelters shared remarkable Before & After makeover photos — including the Top 10 Shelter Dog Makeovers of 2021.
Animal advocate Lee Asher partners with Wahl to spread awareness about the importance of grooming when it comes to dog adoption. The tenth annual Dirty Dogs Contest donates grooming supplies and funds to rescues and shelters nationwide to further support their efforts.
Woodrow was brought into the shelter as a stray. Living in the harsh outside conditions took an extreme toll on Woodrow. The matting in his fur was so severe he could barely move, his long nails curled around his paws twice, and he was left blind from neglect. After an extensive and tedious grooming, using every tool in the chest, a cute little man slowly emerged. Woodrow soon found a new family and is now weathering kisses rather than storms.
Cheyenne was brought to the shelter as a scared and clearly neglected stray. Her coat was so matted she had difficulty going to the bathroom, which caused her extreme discomfort. After a two-hour grooming session, however, a sweet and happy Mini Schnauzer was revealed. Cheyenne will soon be available for adoption and is thrilled to finally find a forever home.
Easton must have seen a lot of hardship in his 12 long years. He was rescued from a high kill shelter that was going to euthanize him because he was unable to walk due to neglected matting. From there, his story took a dramatic turn when a good grooming revealed that ‘he’ was actually a ‘she’. Now with a new haircut, and a new identity, Easton is living her best life.
Elise (aka the Muppet) was one of three dogs rescued from a woman who had dementia and could no longer properly care for them. Elise had severe matting which made her four paws look like eight. Her nails were over an inch long with additional nails undergrown back into her pads. Elise, now lovingly referred to as the Muppet, received a manicure and some proper pampering to become the pretty girl she is today.
Elmer and two of his pals were brought to a shelter by a landlord whose tenants moved out and left the three senior dogs alone in their crates. These three musketeers were in terrible shape; and the vet helping Elmer stated she had never seen matting as severe as his. Fortunately, with a lot of TLC, Elmer transformed into a handsome gentleman and now lives in the home of his dreams.
Godiva was found in deplorable condition. Her mats were so severe, her rescuers worried about injuries under all that fur. Groomers began the slow, tedious process of cutting out the mats. After hours of grooming, and two pounds of extra fur, a little girl emerged that’s as sweet as her name.
Mallory arrived at the shelter looking very scruffy and unwell. Her back was completely raw from scratching, she limped from an unknown injury and matted fur completely covered her eyes. After treating her injuries, Mallory was treated to a nice bath and haircut, transforming her into a real catch. Mallory is now happily adopted and loving her new home.
Oliver was rescued after suffering from severe neglect. He was in such bad shape his poor little eyes were matted open. After a proper grooming, things started looking up for Oliver, and he was placed with a loving family who proclaims him ‘the sweetest dog alive!’ Oliver is finally living his best life.
Olivia’s journey to recovery began on Father’s Day when she was found drinking from a gutter in a very busy neighborhood. A good Samaritan alerted her whereabouts to a shelter and she was brought in immediately. There it was discovered that Olivia suffered from severe mange. After months of care and healing, she transformed into a gorgeous girl.
Sharon and Debbie were found as strays huddled in a culvert. Their rescuers were shocked by what they discovered on the sweet puppies. What appeared to be dirt, was actually thousands of tiny fleas, leaving them uncomfortable and at-risk. After three long baths, the sisters were finally clean and ready to cuddle.
From now until Nov. 9, 2021, public votes will decide which three dogs rise to the top; and the organizations affiliated with these dogs will receive a total of $15,000 in monetary grants to further support their efforts — $10,000 will go to the first place winner!
Visit DirtyDogsContest.com to see amazing makeovers, and vote for your favorite.
Shelter dogs have remarkable stories to tell, so to help bring a voice to the Dirty Dogs Contest Wahl is once again working with animal advocate Lee Asher. Dog lovers are a breed all their own, and some would say Lee Asher leads the pack. After traveling the country for the last several years with his posse of eleven rescue pooches, Asher now runs his newly constructed animal sanctuary in Estacada, OR, taking in at-risk animals while continuing to educate people on the rewards of dog rescue.
"Dogs love us unconditionally; they don't care what we look like. Unfortunately, however, people don't always return the favor," said Asher. "Too many deserving dogs are being overlooked just because of their appearance, that's why I'm happy to help shed some light on the importance of grooming when it comes to adoption. Good grooming can change a dog's life; not only do they feel healthier and happier, but their true personality can also finally shine through. Sometimes, that's all it takes to capture the heart of their new human."
Dirty Dogs Contest For the last 10 years, Wahl has been on a mission to support dog adoption by donating pet grooming supplies to rescues and shelters nationwide. In fact, this past year Wahl sent thousands of brushes, bottles of shampoo and more to shelters affected by Hurricane Ida. Because of donations like these, hundreds of thousands of dogs are being transformed and readied for adoption; and each year 10 of the most dramatic makeovers are selected to participate in the Dirty Dogs Contest (dirtydogscontest.com).
Visitors to the contest page can see what each dog looked like when they arrived at the shelter or rescue, and how they transformed once they were groomed. They can also learn more about the dogs' backgrounds and share their favorites on social media. Most importantly, their votes determine the top three winners. The shelters and rescue groups affiliated with the winning dogs will receive monetary grants to further support their efforts. In celebration of the contest's 10-year milestone, the first-place prize doubled to $10,000! The other prizes have increased too, with second place receiving $3,000 and third place earning $2,000. The Dirty Dogs Contest runs from now until Nov. 9, 2021. To vote for one of the dogs, visit DirtyDogsContest.com.
For more information on Wahl's complete line of pet products, including grooming tips, visit WahlUSA.com, or follow @WahlPets on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
About Wahl Pet Products Wahl offers a full line of pet grooming solutions that make grooming from home safe, easy and enjoyable. The line includes hygiene products, clippers and accessories. Every year, Wahl is also dedicated to giving shelter animals a fresh start by donating pet grooming products to support adoption efforts and shelters devastated by natural disasters. For more information, visit WahlUSA.com.
About Greater Good Charities Greater Good Charities, is a 501(c)(3) national nonprofit organization, with a 100/100 rating on Charity Navigator, that works to amplify the good in the world to improve the health and well-being of people, pets, and the planet. Since 2007, Greater Good Charities has given over $350 million in cash and in-kind grants to over 5,000 charitable partners worldwide and funded projects in 121 countries. To date, Greater Good Charities has provided over $28 million in support for COVID-19 disaster-relief, including cash grants, in-kind supplies, and programmatic support. To learn more about how Greater Good Charities is amplifying the good across the globe, please visit greatergood.org or follow Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and TikTok.
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