Crawfish the poodle is enjoying his new chapter.
In August, the 3-year-old dog arrived at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah, with a totally different look than the one he is sporting today.
Crawfish was one of 18 neglected dogs rescued from an overcrowded home and brought to Best Friends for treatment and adoption.
“They were all in pretty rough shape,” Best Friends caregiver Anabel Kirk shared in a statement. “Some were more social than others, but they all needed grooming, medical attention, and a lot of patience to help them feel safe again.”
Like the other dogs he arrived with, Crawfish showed up at Beat Friends dirty and undersocialized. He was covered in a thick, heavy coat of matted fur that made him unrecognizable.
For the first stage of his treatment, Crawfish underwent an intense makeover. Best Friends employees shaved off his matted coat over several hours to free the dog of over ten pounds of filthy fur.
Courtesy Best Friends Animal Sanctuary
According to the sanctuary, Crawfish’s change after the makeover was “immediate and stunning” and allowed him to finally show off the cute face he had buried under all that mess.
Crawfish’s personality started to shine through, too. After ditching his old coat, the poodle became more curious, social, and trusting.
Best Friends supported Crawfish through a slow and steady recovery after his rescue, and the efforts paid off.
Courtesy Best Friends Animal Sanctuary
“All the dogs had varying levels of shyness,” Kirk added. “Some ran right up to us, excited for attention, while others, like Crawfish, would sit in the corner and hide. But they’ve all made incredible progress. It’s been so rewarding to watch them come out of their shells.”
With enough encouragement and support, the poodle started joining dog play groups, making new friends among Best Friends’ staff members, and generally having fun.
Courtesy Best Friends Animal Sanctuary
Once the reinvented Crawfish completed his recovery, he soon found a forever home. The dog was adopted several months after arriving at Best Friends and is now enjoying a fulfilling life in Tuscon, Arizona, with his new family.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Best Friends hopes stories like Crawfish’s show that every rescue animal deserves a second chance to blossom.
This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.
