Cool or cruel: Viral photo of shaved Husky

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Is the photo of a shaved Husky cool or cruel? When a photo of a fully-shaved husky (except for his head) went viral on Twitter this week, people were stunned, and many just didn’t know how to react to the more than “freaky” picture. It was tweeted on Thursday by a Twitter user who goes by Omona Kami. He wrote:

 “If you’ve never seen a husky with absolutely no body hair then here you go. Enjoy”.

And so began the Internet discussion. It didn’t take long before comments started to roll in. Some people thought the photo had been a product of “photoshop” while others defended the dog’s owner stating the pooch may have been prepared for surgery, had fleas or that he may have rolled in tar or glue – making it necessary to shave his coat. Many more people, however worried his coat had been shaved as a joke.

“This isn’t cute. It will not keep them cooler in the summer, it will permanently damage their coat, increases the risk of sunburn and skin cancer, it will not decrease their shedding, it will not help with your allergies,” one person commented.

According to the South Florida Siberian Husky Rescue, the advice not to shave your dog comes strongly worded:

“… The Siberian Husky should never be clipped / shaved except in medical emergencies. Yes, there are “professional” groomers out there who will tell you to shave your Husky. They will even do it without asking your consent! There are vets who will tell you to shave your Husky. These vets are uninformed about the breed.

Dogs do not sweat like humans. Their cooling process is done via panting from the mouth, sweating at the paws and cooling the blood in their ears. Shaving the dog does nothing to keep the dog cool. It just makes the human feel better when looking at the coated dog.
The Siberian Husky has little to no pigmentation in its skin. If you shave the Husky, you expose it to the sun without protection. Now you have a dog that can come up with a variety of skin problems including skin cancer. Another reason to NOT clip / shave your Husky is that the fur acts as a protection against insects and parasites. You remove that protection the dog is exposed to even more insect problems than he would have had if he had been allowed to keep is protective coat.

Furthermore, if you clip / shave a Husky it will eventually ruin the coat and disturb the proper shedding process. Resource: Ted Greenlee”

Double coated dogs shed; brush them everyday, but be realistic there will be hair in your home. If shedding in a home is a problem, then the Siberian Husky is not a dog for you.

What do you think? Was it cute or cruel?

(Photo of shaved Husky via Twitter)

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Pomeranian’s throat slit while owner slept; a warning to all pet owners

 

East Harlem man charged with cruelty and torture after dog’s paw fell off

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An East Harlem dog owner faces animal cruelty and torture charges after his Bichon Frise’s paw fell off because of lack of grooming. On Monday, Kenneth Hill, 25, arrived at the Animal Medical Center holding his dog in one hand and dog’s front right paw in the other hand- which had completely separated from the suffering dog’s leg. According to DNAInfoNY, the examining veterinarian stated the paw fell off because of the extreme matting which had cut off all blood circulation to the 15-year-old dog’s paw.

The dog named Snow was matted over his entire body, was underweight, smelled badly and his nails had not been trimmed for an extended period of time.

“I haven’t been grooming him because he doesn’t like to be groomed. I have my own manner of grooming,” Hill reportedly told authorities.

Hill has been charged with  aggravated cruelty to animals, causing extreme physical pain and overdriving, torturing and injuring an animal. Bond was set at $5,000.

Snow has been transferred to the ASPCA in New York where he is recovering. To donate to Snow and help other victims of abuse and neglect, please click here.

(Photo (not of Snow) via the ASPCA for dog’s paw fell off and how to avoid matting in your dog)

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California rescue takes on litter of very ill German shepherd puppies

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In a heartbreaking emergency, the California rescue, Coastal German Shepherd Rescue of Southern California, have bravely taken on a litter of seven very sick German shepherd puppies surrendered by their owner to the open admission San Bernardino City Shelter on Saturday afternoon. As is preferred practice for city shelter, unless an approved rescue organization can be found immediately, puppies with contagious diseases have to be immediately euthanized to avoid the spread of illnesses to the other shelter dogs.

Within an hour, the word had spread amid the rescue community for the seven puppies who tested positive for parvovirus. The majority of cases are seen in puppies between six weeks and six months old, however the incidence of the parvovirus infection has been reduced by early vaccination in young puppies.

“Just when we were starting to catch our breath from the many medical cases we have had over the past week, we got a text from our friends at the San Bernardino City Shelter that 7 (SEVEN) pups had just been surrendered and they tested positive for PARVO. Seriously, SEVEN PARVO PUPPIES. . . Unbelievable. We had no time to even think. The pups had one hour to leave the shelter or be euthanized,” the group posted on their Facebook while coordinating the emergency rescue details.

More than likely these puppies came from a backyard breeder. Advertisements from these unscrupulous breeders are all over the Internet and especially on Craigslist. Although they  may seem to be the neighbor who happens to live next door, these are the people who treat their  family pets as breeding machines for profit. Too often, these pet owners do not utilize the expertise of veterinarians – and a tragic situation just like this with seven critically ill puppies are the result.

“SEVEN PARVO PUPPIES are going to cost us a small fortune but there is no way we could say no. Can you help us figure out how we are going to cover the medical bills for this litter? Every dollar will add up and make a big difference.”

The pups have all been transferred to the organization’s partner veterinarian and are being kept in isolation and treated accordingly. No updates have been made available as of this time. To donate to their care, please click here.

(Photos of German shepherd puppies via Facebook Coastal German Shepherd Rescue OC)

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Senior Labrador with huge tumor found scrounging to survive on the streets

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In rural Columbia, South Carolina, a senior Labrador retriever with a huge tumor on his shoulder was found roaming the streets by Animal Control scrounging everywhere for food. Thought to have been on his own for quite awhile and barely able to eat because of the neglected condition of his teeth, even more shocking was the massive growth. The  overall weight of the tumor affected his equilibrium – the kind and gentle dog, dubbed Davis, could barely walk and maintain his balance.Davis the dog

Rescue Dogs Rock NYC has stepped up to rescue Davis. On Saturday, Jackie O’Sullivan, co-founder of the organization introduced the senior on their Facebook page:

“Davis got early release from the SC shelter and is now at our vet on IV with tests pending, on soft blankets probably feeling better than he has in a very long time! As you can probably guess, we need your help to help Davis! He’s going to need a big surgery.  Why, why, why would anyone let this happen to him?! Such senseless neglect.”Davis the dog 2

The ultimate goal for Davis is for the 60-pound dog to undergo successful surgery and then find a home where he can relax and be loved for the rest of his life. As with so many other dogs heartlessly abandoned by uncaring owners, it is not known where Davis came from, but we do know where he is now headed. To help with Davis’ surgery and all that is involved to help this dog have a quality future, donations to Rescue Dogs Rock NYC can be made by clicking here or through PayPal at Donate@rescuedogsrocknyc.org.

(Photos and video of Labrador with huge tumor courtesy of Rescue Dogs Rock NYC)

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Check out Davis’ short video here: (barely any teeth – how did he eat?

Young Lab surrendered to shelter wearing t-shirt to soothe her pain

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Just one-year-old, and MaryJane suffers from a severe case of demodex. When surrendered by her former owners, the friendly Labrador retriever wore a white t-shirt – hopefully one of the family members had dressed her to protect her delicate and painful skin infection. Why she wasn’t treated by a veterinarian remains a tragic mystery, but most likely led to the young dog having been surrendered to the Miami-Dade Animal Services on Wednesday.

According to MaryJane’s veterinary report upon intake at the shelter, the dog suffers from alopecia on her face and body with dry skin over her entire trunk area. At this time, she has been started on antibiotics, and it is recommended a rescue or an adopter followup at a licensed veterinarian. A Facebook page for this dog can be found here. Advocates have been pledging funds to help an approved rescue organization with the anticipated  costs of medical treatments

Check here for MaryJane’s PetHarbor listing. MARYJANE (A1855191) “I am a female white and black Labrador Retriever mix.The shelter staff think I am about 1 year old. I was turned in by my owner and I may be available for adoption on 03/01/2017.” Share this dog’s plight with approved rescue organizations, friends, family and social media contacts. Sharing saves lives. For more information about this dog and how to help, contact:

All dogs are located at Miami-Dade Animal Services located at 3599 NW 79 Avenue, Miami Florida 33166 Phone# 305-884-1101

EMAIL: pets@miamidade.gov Adoption Hours:Monday – Friday 10 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Saturday/Sunday 10 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

(Photo of MaryJane wearing a t-shirt courtesy of Urgent Dogs of Miami)

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Toxic mold in family’s recycling bin kills beloved dog

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A family’s beloved cockapoo died from toxic mold after licking the edges of a recycling bin after it blew over in their garden. The six-year-old dog named Dexter, died from “Toxic Shock Syndrome” – a bacteria buildup caused by the stale bread left in the container. Sarah Dent, from Bovington in Herfordshire, didn’t realize her dog was so sick until he started to convulse, Although she rushed him to the family vet who desperately tried to save the dog’s life, Dexter died one week later.Dog eats moldy bread 2

According to the Metro, Sarah’s other cockapoo named Georgie also became violently ill, but he survived. The entire family has been mourning the death of Dexter; Sarah blames herself for not knowing:

 ‘Toxic Shock Syndrome in dogs was complete news to me. I’d only ever heard of it when I was a teenager learning about periods, I didn’t know dogs could get it,” stated Sarah. “It is my job to keep my children and animals safe, and I failed to do that this time.”

Both dogs were placed into induced comas, however Dexter suffered from a blood clot in his spleen causing organ failure. Georgie is expected to make a full recovery.

The family wants to warn others  about the hidden health hazards from food waste bins and that discarded food needs to be recycled safely.  In this case, the local waste authority issues residents with a food waste container to be kept in the kitchen. A larger container is kept outside and is emptied weekly. When the outdoor container was collected on February 3, Sarah placed the bin back in the garden and intended to clean it later. A storm had knocked it over  and both Dexter and Georgie had licked the  contaminated container. The family stated they will continue to recycle, but will always make sure the bins are tightly sealed.

Rest in peace Dexter.

Photo of  family pet killed by toxic mold via screenshot Mercury Press.

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Read another featured story  about the “worst possible outcome” for a zoo penguin here.Penguin stolen from zoo is found dead

 

Rain poured down on Millie, yet she was too ill to cry for help

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Millie was a street dog in the region of Udaipur,Rajasthan, India. She was just another lost soul who wandered from place to place searching for food and a safe place to sleep. The villagers knew her and helped out by throwing her scraps of food whenever they could; everyone liked her although she belonged to no one. When one afternoon Millie refused to move as the rain poured down upon her head, no one  could figure out why – there was no blood nor any wound, and so a kind Good Samaritan called Animal Aid Unlimited for help.

When the ambulance team came to pick her up, they were surprised to find Millie to be one of the gentlest dogs they had ever encountered. And as she was brought to the rescue for treatment, her condition was grave. Stabilized with fluids and medications, veterinarians were soon able to diagnose the reason for Millie’s lethargy and raging fever.

“Our vet recognized the symptoms of pyometra almost immediately – fluid and pus drained from her vagina. We knew she would need emergency surgery. But could she survive in her weakened state? We were astonished to see how swollen the uterus had become – it was more than five times the normal size!”

The infection Millie suffered had spread, and it took weeks as she battled for her life, but the resilient young dog’s will to live is as special as her gentle spirit. To help more dogs, donations can be sent by clicking here.

(Photo via screenshot Animal Aid Unlimited)

 

Check out the video:

Street dog too sick to even cry for help saved

 

 

Update on Pascal: 4-month-old puppy drowned in glue

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The four-month-old puppy drowned in glue and dragged through the mud and left to languish in misery along an industrial estate in Istanbul is beginning to recover. According to Nur Rima Yola, the founder of He’Art of Rescue who saved the puppy, dubbed Pascal, the little guy continues to be treated with antibiotics and painkillers.

As reported originally by the Pet Rescue Report,  Pascal – barely alive, stood as stiff as a statue, in a cartoon box he was brought to the shelter. What happened to him defied all logic and compassion. Children had drowned the dog in glue just for fun. In what a group of heartless kids thought was a game and highly amusing, they drenched Pascal in glue and then dragged him through the mud. And to seal the defenseless puppy’s fate, they ran away leaving Pascal to try and rub the hardening glue away.

Pascal was brought to a shelter and He’Art of Rescue stepped in to help. Nur described her first reaction when she saw the puppy:

“A statue made of mud and glue, a statue submissive to everything that happens around him. A statue in desperate fear of what is to come next. The remnants of once a puppy, barely alive stands as we listen to his story in shock…,” Nur posted on their Facebook page describing the emotional and heartbreaking story of the pup’s short life.

And as everyone has been patiently waiting, Sunday brought Pascal’s update; the puppy drowned in glue and rescued just five days prior: pascal-after-2

“After the glue has been removed, he stood in shock for one day. He was even turning his back to hide when he sees people. Since yesterday he is doing better, slowly getting used to the staff in the clinic, of course love is being poured to him. He especially bonded with one of the doctors who is in charge of him, Hasan Akin. They are best buddies. We know his soul will mend in time and the adoptive family will play a major role in this. Our medical team is doing everything for him.”

In addition Nur made Pascal’s 30,000 followers smile with more words of hope:

“Baby Pascal is recovering very fast; he has a big appetite and eats three times a day but he also developed an allergic reaction due to all the chemicals his skin absorbed. Our doctors are attending it and drawing a very delicate treatment plan for his fragile puppy metabolism.
Meanwhile Pascal’s broken spirit is being attended too; cuddling time , spoiling , TLC … We will continue doing whatever is required to mend everything that fell apart in him.”

To donate to Pascal’s fund, please click here.

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(Photos and video of puppy drowned in glue with permission from He’Art of Rescue)

Check out the latest video of Pascal:

 

 

Exhausted stray pup at Chicago shelter

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On November 4, Arlo arrived at the Chicago Animal Care and Control as a stray. Perhaps that was the luckiest situation for this little lost soul who was reportedly so tired that all he wanted to do was sleep. There is no doubt Arlo has been severely neglected for an extended period of time; the exhausted stray pup just wanted to rest.friendless-dog-2

According to the CACC Dog Transfer Team Facebook page, ARLO A158064 is a ten-year-old male. He came into the shelter as a stray on 11/4/16 and is available for rescue at 7 pm on 11/7/16.  He is noted to be actively sneezing and desperately needs a grooming and a nail trim. The dog seemed exhausted and didn’t want to get up.

A veterinarian examination has been requested by the team. An approved rescue group has expressed an interested in rescuing Arlo, however a foster family is needed. If interested in helping or donating to the rescue of this friendless little Yorkie mix, contact Fetching Tails Foundation.

“Sometimes we wonder how a human can treat and neglect a dog like this. This old fella is currently at Chicago Animal Control. He is 10 years young, Male Yorkie and in need of a foster home. He does need an isolation foster because he has been exposed to the canine flu. Let’s work together to save this old soul and give him a good life going forward.”

Do not call the shelter to inquire about any dogs posted on the CACC Rescue page. The volunteer Transfer Team was created to help with this, so please send a note via their Facebook page. These dogs are not on the adoption floor for reasons cited as space, medical, etc. Approved rescue groups must intervene to help.

(Photos of exhausted stray pup via CACC Dog Transfer Team)

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Gracious old street dog nearly killed by flesh eating worms

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A gracious old street dog, who regularly roamed a rural area of India where poverty abounds and many local residents barely have enough food for themselves, the dying pooch took refuge in the corner of a bathroom in a family’s private home. So often, dogs know it’s their time to die and seek refuge in a quiet place; this old pup was dying from flesh eating worms. dylan-the-dog-4

Fortunately the homeowners called Animal Aid Unlimited – a rescue center, hospital and sanctuary for injured and ill street animals in Udaipur, Rajasthan, India. When volunteers arrived, they found Dylan hiding in the corner. His ear was shredded and was being painfully eaten away by maggots. In a few more days, the flesh eating worms would have invaded his brain – killing him slowly in an agonizing death. dylan-the-dog-5

And to a dog’s time honored instinct to trust human compassion, the friendly dog recognized his rescuers as wanting to help him; as sick as he was, Dylan wagged his tail in a friendly greeting. Wrapped in a blanket and rushed back to the rescue, he was sedated and his gaping wounds and severe maggot infestation were washed away. Because his ear had become badly infected and necrotic, veterinarians had to remove it, but watch Dylan’s amazing recovery.dylan-the-dog-7

To support the work of this organization, donations can be made by clicking here.

(Photos of flesh eating worms via Animal Aid Unlimited)

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