German Shepherd Was So Neglected It Took A Year For Her Hair To Grow Back

When someone first noticed Sheena and Belinda hanging out around their home last September, they immediately knew something wasn’t right. Both dogs had a ton of fur loss, and Sheena’s was so severe she was essentially completely bald except for a little bit of fur on her face. The person who spotted them had a strong feeling the dogs needed help, writes thedodo

“A member of the public grew concerned about Sheena and a second dog — Staffordshire bull terrier Belinda — at a property in Sheffield and contacted us,” Sara Jordan, an inspector with the RSPCA, said in a press release.

Jordan responded to the call and was shocked when she first laid eyes on the two dogs. Sheena is a German Shepherd, and therefore should have had a thick, gorgeous coat. Instead, she barely looked like a dog at all because she had so much fur loss, and it was hard to tell what kind of dog she was supposed to be. As soon as the police were able to release the dogs into the care of the RSPCA, Jordan rushed Sheena and her friend Belinda to the vet to receive medical attention as quickly as possible.

After examining both dogs, the vet determined that they both had severe flea infestations, which were causing their extensive hair loss. Both dogs were also underweight and in generally poor condition. RSPCA staffers were shocked that someone could allow them to deteriorate to such a state.

The dogs’ previous owner, Jason Pearce, was arrested and charged with two offenses under the Animal Welfare Act, and will not be allowed to have any pets for 10 years.

Sheena’s condition was so bad when she arrived in the care of the RSPCA that it took months and months of attention and rest before the skinny, hairless dog was finally fully healed …

… and looked like a happy, healthy German Shepherd again.

While Belinda has already been reserved by a loving family, Sheena is still searching for her forever home. As staffers at the RSPCA’s Sheffield Animal Center have gotten to know her, they’ve discovered that she’s an absolute sweetheart who loves playing outside and getting lots of treats. She would do best in a home with no young kids and no other dogs, and would love a family who can keep up with her active lifestyle.

For the first time in her life, Sheena finally gets to look and act like a regular dog, and everyone who knows her is so hopeful that the right family will find her very soon.

“This fantastic girl has been through so much, yet she always brings us so much joy and happiness to everyone she meets with her amazing personality,” a spokesperson with the RSPCA said in a press release.

Source: thedodo.com