A Gentle Giant Deserves Comfort Again

For weeks, this dog survived alone on the streets of Kentucky. People would spot him, take photos, and post sightings on Facebook — but no one could get close enough to help him.

This weekend, everything changed.

After he was posted on a local community page, the Animal Control Officer and his wife went out determined not to give up. With patience, kindness, and turkey bacon, they finally lured him to safety. When he was finally caught, they weren’t even sure of his gender, age, or true size because of the severity of his matted coat.

Shelter workers then spent the weekend patiently shaving off the dirty, tangled coat, revealing an emaciated male dog covered in ticks and sores. He was so gentle they named him Abe, and reached out to One By One for medical assistance.

Severe matting like this causes constant pain and injury. It pulls tightly on the skin every moment, leading to deep irritation, open sores, infection, and extreme weakness from prolonged neglect.

In some areas, it can become so tight it restricts circulation, adding further pain and damage to already fragile tissue.

Every step of his recovery will take time, medical care, and compassion.

Right now, he urgently needs:

Blood work to evaluate his overall condition

Testing for tick-borne illnesses and treatment if positive

Flea/tick prevention and deworming

Vaccines

Ongoing medical care following shaving to treat wounds and parasites

Frequent small meals and high-quality nutrition to safely regain strength

At this time, he is too medically unstable for neuter surgery, but that will come later when his body is stronger.

He survived weeks alone. Now he deserves the chance to heal safely, comfortably, and surrounded by care.

If you would like to help be part of his recovery journey, donations toward his veterinary care would mean the world to him — and to us.

7/24/26 Update

Thanks to this incredible community, Abe's journey has the happy ending we were all hoping for.

When Abe was rescued after surviving alone on the streets, his future was uncertain. Beneath the heavy mats, he was painfully thin, covered in ticks and sores, and in desperate need of medical care. We believed that once his matted coat was removed and he began gaining weight, the hardest part of his recovery would be behind him.

But Abe wasn't finished keeping us on our toes. His endlessly wagging "happy tail" turned into an unexpected medical challenge. After two emergency room visits, multiple veterinary appointments, and ultimately two separate tail amputation surgeries, Abe faced yet another hurdle with the same gentle spirit that won everyone's hearts from the very beginning.

Today, we're thrilled to share the news we've all been waiting for. Abe had his sutures removed, his little tail nub is healing beautifully, and he has officially been medically cleared by his veterinary team!

As wonderful as that news is, it gets even better. Abe has found his forever home. He is now living the life he always deserved with a loving family, two canine siblings, and a little boy who will grow up alongside him. The frightened, neglected dog who once wandered the streets alone is now surrounded by love, safety, and a family that will cherish him for the rest of his life.

None of this would have been possible without your compassion. Your donations helped provide the diagnostics, emergency care, surgeries, medications, and follow-up treatment Abe needed every step of the way. Because of your generosity, he was given not only a second chance—but a brand-new beginning.

From all of us at One By One, and from Abe's forever family, thank you for believing in him. Your kindness transformed the life of a dog who had every reason to give up, and instead gave him the future he always deserved.