<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve never seen anything this bad,\u201d said Nicole Ferguson, co-owner of The Dapper Dog, a mobile dog grooming business that opened in April. \u201cThey had to have been like that for years.\u201d<\/p>\n On Wednesday, about 110 animals \u2013 including dogs, a cat, pigs, goats, sheep, horses, a burro, one duck, chickens and cattle \u2013 were seized from a resident\u2019s property in southwestern La Plata County.<\/p>\n A citation was issued for animal cruelty, according to a La Plata County news release. However, the identity of the resident and the exact location of the seizure were not disclosed because the investigation is ongoing.<\/p>\n \u201cFurther information will be forthcoming when it becomes available,\u201d La Plata County\u2019s statement said.<\/p>\n That same day, Ferguson, who regularly offers her company\u2019s services to the La Plata County Humane Society free of charge, received a call about the seizure and was asked if she could help groom two dogs in bad shape.<\/p>\n The two dogs \u2013 female shih tzu mixes about 4 to 5 years old \u2013 had severely matted hair, which can make it painful for the animals to move and see. There was also a strong odor of feces, Ferguson said.<\/p>\n It took two hours for each dog to remove the solid, matted hair, which came off in one piece.<\/p>\n \u201cAs I was shaving that off, they just started having personality,\u201d Ferguson said. \u201cWhen they were all cleaned up and bathed, they were wagging their tails and seemed a lot better.\u201d<\/p>\n Ferguson said she cleaned one dog on Wednesday, and had to return for the second on Thursday. The dog cleaned Wednesday generally seemed happy, wagging her tail and welcoming the much-needed grooming.<\/p>\n \u201cShe was a lot more perky,\u201d Ferguson said. \u201cShe was totally fine being held and touched, and was very good for the groom.\u201d<\/p>\n The second dog, on the other hand, was in far worse shape, Ferguson said.<\/p>\n While the matted hair caused the dogs pain, Ferguson said there should be no lingering effects, and the dogs\u2019 coat of fur will likely grow back.<\/p>\n However, Ferguson said the second dog\u2019s nails hadn\u2019t been cut in years. As a result, they grew so long the nails had curled up, puncturing the dog\u2019s pads and altering the structure of her joints and paws.<\/p>\n \u201cA dog\u2019s pads are usually rough and black,\u201d she said. \u201cHers were pink and fleshy, and she hasn\u2019t walked on them in ages, so they\u2019re very sensitive. I\u2019m not sure how long it\u2019ll take for them to toughen up. And she\u2019ll probably have arthritis issues with her feet.\u201d<\/p>\n For the most part \u2013 and given the circumstances \u2013 Ferguson said the dogs are healthy and should make great pets for a new home. Despite the horribly disheveled state they arrived in, Ferguson said the dogs had no serious wounds \u2013 just a couple scrapes and scabs.<\/p>\n The second dog, though more reserved, probably just needs a little loving to get back to normal, Ferguson said.<\/p>\n \u201cShe wasn\u2019t bad or mean,\u201d she said. \u201cShe just seemed a little more pitiful. It\u2019ll probably take a little longer for her to warm up to somebody.\u201d<\/p>\n The dogs are not currently up for adoption as the investigation continues.<\/p>\n La Plata County\u2019s spokeswoman Megan Graham said last week all seized animals are being cared for, but she declined to say where they were receiving care.<\/p>\n The animals were apparently taken as part of a \u201clengthy investigation\u201d with multiple agencies participating.<\/p>\n Ferguson said the conditions of the two shih tzus were the worst she\u2019s seen.<\/p>\n \u201cI was just so glad I could help,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n