Dog With Severe Skin Condition Treated At Arlington Shelter

ARLINGTON, VA — Rufus, a brown-eyed dog with a severe skin infection and hair loss, walked through the doors of the Arlington County Shelter on Sunday. He had been found all alone on the side of the road and was brought to the Animal Welfare League of Arlington for help,

After a gentle sponge bath administered by Animal Care Tech Tori and Animal Control Officer Karina, Rufus settled into a kennel with a bed full of soft blankets and treats, according to a blog post on the AWLA website. He also got a thorough exam from the vet team, including vaccines and medication. In addition, they took blood and skin samples to help diagnose his condition.

"We don’t know much about Rufus or how he ended up in this condition, but we do know that he is at just the beginning of a long journey of healing," Meghan Sharon, development associate, said in the blog post. "Our vet started him on medications to manage his pain while we await his test results, and depending on his diagnosis, he will very likely need months of treatment until he is fully recovered."

AWLA cares for thousands of animals every year just like Rufus. Beyond adoptions, AWLA offers a variety of services to help animal owners, including low-cost spay/neuter vouchers, rabies and microchipping clinics, a pet food pantry, a veterinarian assistance program and low-cost wellness clinics.

Arlington County pays AWLA about $1 million annually to run the shelter, yet it costs the 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation another $2 million each year to continue its mission. Most of that money is raised from special events or through donations from public. Make a donation online to help AWLA continue caring for animals like Rufus.