Neglected Dog Gets Second Chance at Santa Barbara Humane

When a member of the community found a small, severely matted, filthy dog in his driveway at 4:00 a.m., he knew he had to help. He had not seen this dog before and noticed signs of neglect. His first thought was to take him to Santa Barbara Humane’s campus in Santa Maria.

The Lhasa Apso mix was in obvious pain. His matted hair was impeding his movement, he smelled, and worst of all, he had a piece of old twine wrapped around his snout. The string must have been there for a long time; it was partially embedded into his skin, leaving his face raw and irritated.

After medical treatment, a bath, and grooming, the Santa Barbara Humane staff was shocked to see the adorable, sweet dog underneath the matted fur and grime. Estimated at seven years old, the staff started calling him Ziggy. He weighs 10 pounds and is filled with love to give.

Because he was a stray, legally Ziggy had to wait 72 hours for someone to claim him. When no one arrived for this charming stray pup, he was given a chance at adoption. Ziggy still has a tough road ahead of him. He needs treatment for anemia due to his prior flea infestation and he has been diagnosed with dental disease. But luckily for Ziggy, the donor-supported TLC Fund is available at Santa Barbara Humane to cover all his veterinary expenses to set him up for a lifetime of wellness in his next home.

Ziggy (after)

Santa Barbara Humane operates two campuses located in Santa Barbara and Santa Maria providing care for community-owned and homeless animals. Both campuses offer affordable high-quality veterinary care, compassionate behavior training programs, and a relinquishment program for owners who can no longer care for their pets. Homeless animals receive medical care, shelter, and basic behavior training until their adoption.