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SALT LAKE CITY — Four months after Matt Bentley rescued Kelly, a Brittany spaniel he found scabbed and balding wandering around the Bonneville Salt Flats, the dog has made a full recovery. And, on Sunday, Kelly found a home and family.
In an announcement posted to Facebook, the Utah Animal Adoption Center, the organization that took Kelly in and nursed her back to health, said that Kelly had been adopted by a family that volunteers at the shelter.
It was through volunteering at the animal shelter that “we came to fall in love with this sweet strong girl dog,” the family wrote on Facebook in a post signed "Kelly, Trent, Jamie and Rocky," adding that they “knew all along this was where Kelly was meant to be.”
Kelly was in extremely poor health when she was brought to the Utah Animal Adoption Center in January. The dog was starving, shivering and covered in sarcoptic mange, a type of scabies found in dogs that causes hair to fall out, according to Pet MD.
“I don’t think we’ve ever had a dog come in with mange this bad before,” Kylie Mecham, a receptionist with the adoption center, told KSL.com in January.
But after months of working with a team of veterinarians, including Dr. Kelly Gehlhaus of Midvalley Animal Clinic, the dog’s fur grew back and the mange went away.
“After four long months of recovering from mange and starvation, our sweet girl Kelly went to her forever home,” the animal shelter wrote in a Facebook post on Sunday. “We are so happy for her. Somewhat bittersweet, but she will drop by for visits! Stay happy Kelly, we all love you!”
The family who adopted Kelly has another dog, Rocky, and they plan on launching an “Adventures of Kelly and Rocky” Instagram account, according to the Facebook post.
In the Facebook post, the family also thanked the Utah Animal Adoption Center, as well as people who have sent Kelly gifts, cards and prayers. They added that the dog is transitioning to her new home nicely.
“Kelly is doing amazing in our home!” the Facebook post said. “She loves her brother dog Rocky, loves both of us, she’s right at home. Our hearts are so full right now and we are so honored and grateful to be her parents.”
A live video of Kelly’s adoption was posted to Facebook earlier this week.
Those who have worked with Kelly note her positive attitude and general likeability.
“She is such a good girl,” Lila Oulson, Utah Animal Adoption Center manager, told KSL in January.
“Dogs have a spirit that’s such a forgiving spirit. We’ve seen dogs come in that we know have been abused and they might be shy at first or scared, but with a little bit of love, they’re just best friends with us,” Oulson said.
