Shocking: Shrek was found abandoned near some woodland (Picture: Park Road Veterinary Clinic / Facebook)

This abandoned dog could barely walk due to the crippling pain in its legs when he was found wandering in some farmland. Fortunately for the poor pup, who vets named Shrek, this is one shaggy dog story with a happy ending.

The dog could barely walk when he was found (Picture: Park Road Veterinary Clinic / Facebook)

With his heavily-matted fur caked in mud dragging him down, he was later named after the famous cartoon ogre by animal welfare officials in Ontario, Canada, due to his resemblance to a swamp creature.

Emotional staff removed 3.5lb of fur (Picture: Park Road Veterinary Clinic / Facebook)

‘One morning after a horrible rainstorm, my husband spied what looked like an old carpet or a dead coyote in the field near the bush,’ his foster mother, Dr Brenda Gough, told Metro.

He was treated at the Park Road Veterinary Clinic in Burford (Picture: Park Road Veterinary Clinic / Facebook)

‘The little dog looked like a swamp creature, hence the name Shrek.




‘He was terrified, shaking horribly, and we couldn’t tell if he was ill or injured, only that he couldn’t run very far because the matts were not only so heavy, they had caked his legs together.’

Shrek resembled a swamp creature when he was found (Picture: Park Road Veterinary Clinic / Facebook)

Shrek was treated under anaesthetic at the Park Road Veterinary Clinic where shocked staff shaved off more than 3.5lb of matted fur and cleaned him up.

Much better: Shrek after being cleaned up (Picture: Park Road Veterinary Clinic / Facebook)

The canine, who vets say probably spent most of its life in a cage, also had a burr removed from his eye by staff.

He is currently recovering with Dr Brenda Gough and her family (Picture: Park Road Veterinary Clinic / Facebook)

‘How he found his way to our farm I don’t know, he was probably looking towards the only lights visible in the area,’ added Dr Gough.

Shrek is said to be recovering well from his ordeal (Picture: Park Road Veterinary Clinic / Facebook)

‘We have gotten to know Shrek, and can say with confidence that he came from someone who left him in atrocious conditions. You don’t get like that if somebody loves you.’

Making friends: Staff say he was ‘afraid of his own shadow’ (Picture: Park Road Veterinary Clinic / Facebook)

Despite being anemic and having very low protein, Shrek’s appetite has returned and he is said to be doing ‘a lot better’.

‘He is more comfortable with other dogs than with people, although he is learning that snuggling on the couch, warm and dry, loved by children and family, is actually pretty awesome,’ explained Dr Gough.

‘He is still terrified and nervous, but looking for human contact, and learning all about love.’

Shrek looks dapper in a new outfit (Picture: Park Road Veterinary Clinic / Facebook)

She added: ‘He’s a special little guy with a huge fan club. The outpouring of support from around the world has raised my faith in humanity.’

Following the publicity, a tip-off led to the rescue of 12 more dogs being kept in poor conditions in a nearby puppy mill.