Hairy little survivor, Schnitzel the Dachshund, needs a home

Poor Schnitzel was found wandering on the streets of Santa Maria in terrible condition. One of the biggest “train wrecks” we’ve seen in Rescue, Schnitzel looked like a stinky ratty old carpet that had been left out in the rain for a year. He had clearly been neglected for a very long time. Unfortunately, this scenario is very common in dachshund rescue.

Schnitzel's stats
Name: Schnitzel
Age: 11 years
Color: Black & Tan
Coat: Longhair
Sex: Male/Neutered
Size: Mini - 13 lbs.

Upon further examination, we saw he was in much worse shape than we originally though. Not only did he have ear, eye, dental and respiratory infections, but his lower half was covered in matted hair, making it very painful for him to walk. As we were grooming him, we found dead bugs and other debris stuck in his coat -- including two crushed M&Ms.

To make matters worse, he had a large mat of hair caught in his lower jaw—the smell was terrible! A nasty flea infestation had caused severe dermatitis; his back and tail were almost bald, and he had a bad case of worms. As if the physical neglect weren’t enough, he was depressed and withdrawn, unresponsive to people.

Once Schnitzel received veterinary care, love and TLC, we were amazed at his transformation. After a serious grooming, now free of infection, worms, fleas and a half dozen rotted teeth, Schnitzel blossomed. He has come alive again, running around the house, and wag-wag-wagging his tail all the time. His coat is growing in soft and silky, the pep has returned to his step, and he smiles all the time, greeting his foster mom with a happy dance, especially at mealtimes.

He takes a very inexpensive medication for his under-active thyroid, and he will need his remaining teeth cleaned annually. Other than those two small problems, very common in older dogs, he is in perfect health.

Like many older rescues, Schnitzel is grateful to be in a loving home. He really appreciates attention and wants to please his people. A very easygoing dachshund, Schnitzel requires little in the way of maintenance, save for regular brushing to keep his coat looking its best.

He loves going for leisurely walks around the neighborhood and meeting new people. He gets along well with other dogs, even non-dachshunds, but he would be perfectly content to be an only dog, especially if he gets frequent lap time. He’ll sleep in a doggie bed at night, but he’d prefer to sleep in the big bed with his person. He is housetrained, but he’ll need a refresher course in his new home.

Neutered, vaccinated and very healthy, Schnitzel is ready to find his forever home. If you are interested meeting him, please contact Tamar at tamar@crankyeditor.com. An adoption application is required.

He loves going for walkies!

The tax-deductible donation for Schnitzel is $100.00.  

For more info: To learn more about how you can help Southern California Dachshund Rescue, please visit their website at www.delgadog.com.