STERLING, Ill. – National Dog Day is Aug. 26, 2018, and while all dogs should be celebrated, one lucky dog has a reason to cheer. Crinolin was rescued along with 80 other dogs from a hoarding situation. While all the dogs were in horrible shape due to their deplorable living conditions, Crinolin was the worst having lived in the home the longest. At first, rescuers didn’t know Crinolin’s gender as painful matted fur caked her body. After groomers spent hours removing hardened chunks of fur and washing off layers of filth, she was feeling like a million bucks and was quickly adopted. Crinolin’s dramatic transformation not only got her a new “leash” on life, but the title of America’s Top Shelter Dog Makeover in the 2018 Dirty Dogs Contest. The annual effort from pet industry leaders Wahl and GreaterGood.org demonstrates the power of grooming, and awards the top three dog makeovers with grant money for their local shelters (view all the finalists).

“When it comes to adoption, first impressions are often a dog’s last chance. The unfortunate reality is that too many shelters dogs are being perceived as ‘damaged goods’ just because of their appearance,” said Steven Yde, division vice president for Wahl. “Crinolin’s story stands as proof that a good grooming can change a dog’s life in more ways than one. Not only do the dogs look better, but once freed from the dirty and often painfully matted fur, their personalities can really shine through.”

Millions of dogs enter shelters each year, and the vast majority of them are dirty and matted. Unfortunately, less than half of these dogs are getting the grooming they need. For the past seven years, it has been Wahl’s mission to draw attention to this problem with their annual Dirty Dogs Contest (dirtydogscontest.com).

This year, more than 2,000 bottles of Wahl’s pet shampoos were donated to shelters in need, helping to wash and ready more than 20,000 dogs for adoption. In turn, the shelters posted hundreds of amazing transformations into the Dirty Dogs Before & After Photo Gallery (dirtydogsgallery.com). Ten of the most dramatic makeovers from the gallery were selected to participate in the contest, and public votes determined the top three winners.

Wahl offers a full line of pet grooming solutions that make grooming from home safe, easy and enjoyable. The line includes hygiene products, clippers and accessories. Every year, Wahl is also dedicated to giving shelter animals a fresh start by donating pet grooming products to support adoption efforts and shelters devastated by natural disasters.

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