From the doorway, there was very little to see of him. Two eyes looked out from a wall of tangled fur, set inside a dirty wire crate at the end of a dim hallway.

The dog was Murphy, and he weighed just seven pounds. He sat so still that the matted mass around him seemed to be most of what was there. The rescuers who found him did not need long to understand that this was serious.

A Crate in the Back Hallway

The people who reached Murphy were fieldworkers with PETA. The little dog appeared to have been kept in that crate for a very long time, and nothing about his condition suggested he had been cared for.

He did not stand or come forward to greet anyone. He stayed where he was in the dim light, watching from beneath a covering that no longer looked like a coat at all.

Video: Rescuers Free a Tiny Dog Buried Beneath Years of Matted Fur

Fur That Had Turned Into a Shell

Murphy’s hair was matted so badly that it was hard to tell where one part of his body ended and the next began. Dirt, debris and knotted strands had fused into a heavy casing that limited nearly every movement. Even shifting position inside the crate looked like work.

One of the rescue workers later spoke about how painful it was to see such a small animal living in isolation, held in by the very coat that should have protected him.

Talking With the Owners Before Leaving

The team did not simply take him and go. They first spoke with Murphy’s owners, a conversation that was described as difficult and emotional. In the end, the rescuers were able to secure his release.

Murphy was lifted out of the crate gently and driven to a veterinary clinic. A medical team there was ready to begin the long job of freeing him from what he had been carrying.

Why the Clippers Waited for Anesthesia

The mats had pulled so tightly against his skin that the veterinarians judged it would cause needless stress and discomfort to groom him while he was awake. Instead, they placed him under anesthesia and let him rest.

Then the work began. For hours, the clippers hummed as the specialists cut through the hardened layers one section at a time.

More Than Two Pounds on the Table

When they finished, the pile of removed fur was startling. More than two pounds of compacted hair had come off a dog who weighed only seven pounds.

That meant nearly a third of Murphy’s weight had been dirty, tangled fur. With the last mats gone, he looked like a different animal. A warm bath washed away what remained, and for the first time in years he was free of the weight.

Confidence Returns, One Day at a Time

Murphy stayed in PETA’s care while he recovered, and his personality began to surface. The timid dog who had sat so quietly in a dark hallway grew more confident, more energetic and more playful.

The change showed in his mood as much as in his appearance. Staff members grew fond of his gap-toothed grin, and his new liveliness brightened the rooms he entered.

A Short Wait for a Family

When Murphy was ready for the next step, he was transferred to the Norfolk SPCA, where staff began searching for a permanent home. The wait was brief. A family was won over by his cheerful nature and welcomed him in.

Today, Murphy spends his days in bright rooms and on soft beds, with the attention that was missing for so long. For the people who helped him, his story shows what can happen when someone steps in: the dog hidden beneath the mats finally had room to show himself.