Lake Forest Pup, Little Red Dog Rescue Up For Dirty Dog Award

LAKE FOREST, CA —A Lake Forest area animal rescue dog is in the lead of a "dirty dog" challenge, Patch has learned.

The Little Red Dog, Inc. Rescue shared before and after Florence's pictures for the contest, and her story will bring you to tears. The American Staffordshire Terrier was in bad shape at the time of her rescue in May, a spokesperson says. She has made a fantastic transformation after much loving care. Thus far, she is in the top 10 of Whal's Dirty Dog Challenge, a charity-based contest for shelter/rescues.

According to the contest, half of all shelter dogs do not receive the grooming they need. Animal Shelters who can show their pet transformations stand to win $5,000 toward their rescue if their shelter pet makeover is ruled "the best" by the number of like-votes received. So far, Florence—recently adopted, they say—is hanging in there, in the lead of the competition.

Life for Florence did not begin easy.

She arrived at the Little Red Dog, Inc. rescue with a severe, untreated skin condition. Until that time, she spent her life "tied up outside a rural shelter," a spokesperson says. "She was a mess, with bad mange left untreated."

At just six months old, she'd been in pain for most of her life, a spokesperson for the Little Red Dog Rescue wrote on social media.

Once she arrived at Little Red Dog, Inc., they provided medical treatment and nursed her back to health.

She was a shy, sweet puppy who needed medicated baths and Wahl oatmeal shampoo to help her skin, they wrote in the contest entry.

According to a spokesperson for the rescue, after receiving much care, she entered a loving foster home where they showered blankets, love, and cuddles upon her.

If her "before" photo brings tears to your eyes, her "after" picture is heartwarming. She sports a big pink bow and pink collar in the picture, and an expression of trust and loving-kindness, commenters say.
The rescue reports that Florence has been adopted and is enjoying a true "happy ending."

The contest runs until Tuesday, Nov. 3. Will you vote for Florence?