Neglected Dog Found at Local High School Undergoes Dramatic Transformation and Finds a Home
A small, severely matted dog discovered wandering the grounds of a Southern California high school is now nearly unrecognizable after receiving hours of professional grooming—and has since been adopted into a new home. (Watch Video Above)
The dog, now named Stanley, was found without a collar or microchip and brought to Animal Friends of the Valleys, a shelter located in Wildomar, CA. According to staff, his coat was so tangled and dirty that walking appeared difficult, and his feet were raw from trying to chew through the painful mats.
“It was worse than expected,” said Mel, the shelter’s in-house groomer, who immediately began working to remove the mats. “We’re going to have to take this down quite short.”
Over the course of three hours, Mel shaved, bathed, and carefully trimmed the dog’s fur, using a whitening shampoo to help restore his natural color. Despite the lengthy process and the clear signs of past neglect, Stanley remained calm throughout the transformation.
“He soaked up the attention,” said Rocky Kanaka, pet rescue advocate and content creator who documented the process. “It was like he’d been starving for affection.”
Stanley’s condition and location raised questions about his past. With no owner coming forward and signs pointing to long-term neglect, shelter staff speculated he may have been used for breeding and later abandoned.
After three hours of grooming (yes, three), a whitening shampoo, careful trims, and a fresh bandana, the transformation was jaw-dropping. That scruffy little question mark of a dog? Gone. In his place? Stanley. A dapper, smiling showstopper of a pup.
Oh, and the best part? Stanley has been adopted. “He’s safe,” Kanaka confirmed in a video update. “And I’d bet he’s doing a happy dance right now.”
