This is utterly tragic.
Last week, the ISPCA rescued two dogs suffering from the "most horrific case of hair matting ever witnessed."
The animal welfare charity responded to a report in the Limerick area made to the National Animal Cruelty Helpline. Upon calling out to the scene, two dogs were discovered in such bad condition that their breed could not be identified until after they were rescued.
Inspector Emma Carroll said of the dogs: "This is by far the worst case of hair matting I have ever seen. Both dogs smelled so bad of urine and faeces which had soaked so deeply into their coats, it was restricting their ability to move.
"It was impossible to identify what dog breeds they were under their matted hair. They had to be sedated and completely shaved to relieve their suffering caused by the matted coats pinching their skin."
The dogs were Ben, a nine-year-old Bichon Frise, and Elsie, a seven-year-old Shih Tzu.
In a statement issued today, the ISPCA noted that the story will hopefully have a happy ending.
"Ben and Elsie are undergoing veterinary treatment and will require extensive dental work but they are both doing well in ISPCA care and are expected to make full recoveries.
"Both have beautiful temperaments despite the horrendous condition in which they were kept."
