STERLING, Ill., Nov. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Cookie arrived at a shelter in Wichita, KS, as a stray with severe mats on his ears, legs, and chest. With the help of an expert dog groomer, they removed around two pounds of fur, revealing his true beauty. Cookie was quickly adopted and is now thriving in his forever home and living his best life. Cookie's dramatic transformation not only got him a new "leash" on life, but the title of America's Top Shelter Dog Makeover in the 12th annual Dirty Dogs Contest. The effort from pet industry leaders Wahl and Greater Good Charities demonstrates the power grooming can have on pet adoption and awards the top three dog makeovers with grant money for their local shelter.
Animal advocate Lee Asher talks about the importance of grooming when it comes to adoption and shares the winners of the twelfth annual Dirty Dogs Contest.
1st Place Winner of $10,000 - Cookie arrived at the shelter in Wichita, KS, as a stray with severe mats on his ears, legs and chest. With the help of an expert dog groomer, they removed around two pounds of fur, revealing his true beauty. He's now thriving in his new home and living his best life.
2nd Place Winner of $3,000 - Madeline was found as a stray in deplorable condition. She suffered from an extreme case of mange, with skin that appeared as though it had been singed off. Blood and pus oozed from her wounds, causing her significant pain. Rescuers from her shelter in Whitestone, NY, healed her wounds and provided her with love and care she had never known. Madeline now has her forever family, is living happily in the city and now goes by Milly.
3rd Place Winner of $2,000 - Scar was spotted in a social media post about a severely scabies-infested dog by a Fresno, CA, area shelter staff member. Initially unrecognizable due to his condition, it was determined Scar was a small Pomeranian mix. Rescuers suspect he contracted a disease from previous living conditions, but after receiving medication and baths his rash healed. As his skin health improved, so did his demeanor — today Scar is a completely new dog.
About the Dirty Dogs Contest
Millions of dogs enter shelters each year, and the vast majority of them are dirty and matted. Unfortunately, less than half of these dogs are getting the grooming they need. For the past twelve years, it has been Wahl's mission to draw attention to this problem with their annual Dirty Dogs Contest.
Each year, Wahl donates pet grooming supplies to shelters nationwide, aiding in the transformation of dogs and preparing them for adoption. In turn, the shelters post hundreds of amazing transformation photos into the Dirty Dogs Contest gallery. Ten of the most dramatic makeovers from the gallery were selected to participate in the contest, and public votes determined the top three winners.
Kansas Humane Society in Wichita, KS, the rescue organization that saved Cookie, will receive a $10,000 grant to further support their efforts. In addition, NYC Second Chance Rescue in Whitestone, NY, the rescue that submitted second place winner Madeline, will receive a $3,000 grant, and third place dog Scar earned $2,000 for Valley Animal Center in Fresno, CA.
"Grooming is incredibly important for getting our animals adopted, as we do our best to make sure every animal is both mentally and physically healthy before sending them off to their forever home," said Jordan Bani-Younes, Director of Communications at Kansas Humane Society. "We've seen a huge influx of animal intakes in 2023, which has also drained our Emergency Medical Fund. This grant means being able to do more emergency surgeries and help those animals that might be harder to care for."
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) global nonprofit organization that works to help people, pets, and the planet by mobilizing in response to need and amplifying the good. Greater Good Charities, with a Four-Star rating on Charity Navigator and a Platinum Seal on GuideStar, has invested more than $650 million in impact, including cash grants, in-kind supplies, and programmatic support to charitable partners in 121 countries since 2007. To learn more about how Greater Good Charities is amplifying the good across the globe, please visit greatergood.org or follow Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube and TikTok.
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