Meet Brutus; this sweet but naive pup thought he could eat a porcupine, but the porcupine had other ideas. Brutus was found by the Edmonton, Canada rescue organization Paws Up Program (PUP) on August 7 with more than 1,500 quills in his face, eyes, nose and mouth.
The two-year-old Staffordshire bull terrier had been abandoned and was living in a First Nation community near Edmonton when he was found. The dog had been hungry, and when he spotted the porcupine, who would have thought?
So let’s fast forward a bit, when Ashley Bard, the president of PUP, went to the location and found the dog she named Brutus. Tragically, seven of the quills had pierced the young dog’s left eye. Veterinarians did their best to save the dog’s eye, but it had been too badly damaged. On August 13, Brutus had his eye removed.
And with all that Brutus has gone through trying just to find something to eat and survive, and all the pain and discomfort this poor pup had to endure, he has remained friendly and a “sweetheart.”
Two more dogs are also at PUP after unpleasant encounters with porcupines, and are hoping to find homes. Contrary to what most people think, porcupines can not “shoot” their quills at a victim; a dog has to touch the porcupine to get stabbed by quills.
Meet another quill victim:
“This resilient little peanut was brought into our care late last night. She arrived extremely thin, covered in quills, and with over 40 bites to her legs and torso. Her armpit was filled with quills, making it difficult for her to walk. She is at least a year old, and it’s clear that she has given birth to a litter of puppies. Weighing around 30 lbs, this courageous girl defied the odds and survived all the challenges life presented to her. If you’re interested in welcoming a new furry family member into your home, and this adorable girl has captured your heart just like she has ours, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.”
How about Fonzy?
“This gentle and loving boy is currently walking around with a bare bum due to severe matting. He came in quilled and his family moved, unable to take him with them. As a result, he was living on his own for almost a month. It’s important to note that he is great with kids, cats, and other dogs. This approximately 2-year-old dog is looking for a family to call his own – one that will give him all the love and care he deserves, taking him to the moon and back if needed. Currently 28kg. Needs to gain quite a bit of weight to be a healthy size.”
For more information about fostering, donating or adopting, please click here.
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