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By Alyce Collins
Senior Reporter
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When people imagine getting a puppy, they might think of a sweet little fur ball that's full of excitement. What they probably don't imagine is a dog covered in matted fur and fleas—but that's exactly what one woman got when she rescued a dog from the streets.
Natalie Altman, 24, had seen Facebook posts about a small dog that was spotted roaming the streets and was yet to be claimed. When she saw a third post about the little guy late one evening, she didn't hesitate to get into her car and drive over to rescue him.
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Altman, from Houston, Texas, told Newsweek that something told her she had to go get him, and as soon as she saw him, he "ran right up" to her and knew he was in good hands. At first, Altman thought the pup was a girl, but when she discovered he was a boy, she named him Ollie.
It's not clear what he went through, but it's thought that he could potentially be "a puppy mill dump" who had been living on the streets for a while. He was in such a poor condition as he was riddled with fleas and his fur was completely matted.
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"His fur was matted in every section of his little body. I cut off around 50 of them before I decided to shave him completely, and there were even small pieces of trash matted in his fur," Altman said.
"His fleas were unbelievable. They covered his entire body and they were going into his eyes because they had nowhere else to go. It was truly heartbreaking, and he had two facial wounds from the fleas biting him and scratching."
Once she'd given Ollie some food and cut off the clumps of fur, Altman gave him a bath in dish soap to kill the fleas. While it couldn't have been comfortable, Ollie behaved impeccably and was so thankful that Altman had rescued him.
"He was itching so bad, it was hard to watch. Poor baby couldn't relax for more than 15 seconds. He was so gentle and sweet, I could tell he was just grateful to be saved.
"While I was bathing him, he kept falling asleep in the tub. Any chance he could get comfortable, he would fall asleep," Altman continued.
Thankfully, Ollie showed improvements the next morning after a full night's sleep. He had more energy and was interested in his surroundings. There was still a long way to go before he was in better shape, but Altman was delighted to see such a quick turnaround.
It was certainly an "impulsive decision" for Altman to take Ollie home with her, but she knew she had to help – and she knew exactly who could offer him a loving home.
"Our family dog passed away a few years ago and my mom has talked about getting another one ever since. The right opportunity never came along, so I hoped Ollie was the one for her," Altman told Newsweek.
"I called her the next morning and told her everything that happened. When she saw his face, she fell in love."
It appears that Ollie absolutely loves his new home, and they think he's "the best addition" they could have had. He seems happier and healthier and he's learning how to socialize, play fetch and make new friends.
Altman's mom only intended to foster Ollie initially, but after just a couple of days, she's already decided to adopt him permanently. The family couldn't be more delighted to give him a forever home and make sure he never spends another night on the streets.
How Did Social Media React?
Altman knew what a special pup Ollie was, so on the night she rescued him, she started documenting his transformation. She posted several videos on TikTok (@natalieealtman), showing how she shaved his fur and bathed him, and how he made his gradual recovery.
The first video she shared about Ollie has amassed over 795,300 views and 93,800 likes in just a week. TikTok users have been heartened to see Ollie make such a remarkable recovery, and they've thanked Altman for saving him.
She continued: "This has been such blessing for me and I'm so thankful I got to share Ollie's story with the world. Not only that, but I have experienced so much love and support in the comments, which means the world to me.
"I want to thank everyone who made this possible. Everyone who has supported, followed, and shared our story. Ollie is in wonderful hands and will live the rest of his life full of love, care, and joy."
Among the 1,200 comments on Altman's viral TikTok video, many people praised her and were thankful to see Ollie doing so much better. One comment reads: "She's such a beautiful girl with the sweetest temperament, who could ever mistreat this angel."
Another TikTok user wrote: "You have the biggest heart."
While another person responded: "Oh my goodness. He's so sweet. Thank you so much for helping him. He knows you're safe."
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
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