Amazing Recovery Of Dog Whose Ungroomed Fur Caused His Legs To Fall Off

#1 Meet Bobb

When rescuers found Bobb, who had been owned by a group of homeless people in Los Angeles, California, they discovered his matted fur had cut off the circulation to his legs, causing them to start to detach.

#2 Bobb Was Sent To An Animal Hospital

Bobb had been living on the streets under a bridge with a group of homeless Veterans when volunteers from the Americal Legion took the men to new shelters. Dogs, however, were not allowed. Bobb was sent to the Synergy Animal Rescue in San Diego, where it was immediately discovered that the toy poodle was in extreme pain and his circulation was being cut off by his matted fur. He hadn't been groomed or combed since he was born.

#3 His Fur Was Cutting Off His Circulation And Killing Him

The vets in San Diego had to perform a full emergency amputation on Bobb's limbs, removing his front right leg just above his paw and his back left leg just below his knee. They also had to pull out most of his teeth because they were rotting from not eating solid foods. They said that he probably would have been dead in a few months had he not been rescued when he was. He was not getting any blood supplied to his limbs or brain.

#4 His Fur Was Matted And Shell Like

After clipping away at his matted fur, the surgery was performed to save Bobbs life. Doctors said it was the worst case they had ever seen. It took 28 hours to carefully cut away the hardened and encrusted fur that was almost like a shell on the little 10-year-old poodles body.

After the new haircut and stressful surgery, Bobb was sent to a foster home with professional dog trainer, Megan Lundberg, who later decided to keep Bobb after she and her husband and two other dogs fell in love with him. 'As soon as I heard about Bobb I immediately knew we wanted to foster him,' said Mrs. Lundberg.

#5 He Began To Visit Ill Children Until He Was Struck Down Once More

Bobb continued to heal and recover. He began to play, run, and was well on his way to a full recovery. He visited people with special needs to spread his message of strength, love, compassion, and understanding. When visiting a special needs child at a local hospital, Bobb became ill once more and was sent into surgery, where a large infected abscess was removed from his mouth. It looked like the end for Bobb, but he proved once more that he is a fighter with a strong will to live.

#6 Bobb Is Proof There Is Hope For Older And Abandoned Dogs

The Lundberg's have tried to get prosthetics for Bobb, but because his amputation was so high, there is not enough leg to attach a prosthesis to. He also has difficulty eating because of his mouth but remains strong and willful. He has settled into his new life and is very happy, and incredibly smart. He has learned to sit, lie down, speak, and "reach" where he waves his front nub. The Lundbergs say he is a bundle of joy and loves to walk and play considering his situation. "Bobb didn't deserve to be euthanized because he is old and was neglected so severely. He did have a miserable existence but that is behind him now."