Dog days: Pet tales of people and their pooches
Thankfully the spikes missed Bella's eyes.
In Oklahoma, USA, two dogs learned the hard way about the dangers posed by porcupines after they were pierced by hundreds of quills in separate incidents.
According to animal experts, porcupines are nocturnal but the recent drought in the state probably forced the creatures to come out in the day to search for water. One of the porcupines was drinking from a pond when along came a three-year-old bulldog named Bella Mae.
Bella's owners, Jerry and Allison Noles, told Norman city's TV news that she was playing with two other dogs near the pond in their backyard when the dogs spooked the wild spiky critter. A veterinarian and two nurses from the local Animal Emergency Clinic spent two hours plucking over 500 quills from Bella's face, mouth and paws during surgery.
"It was devastating," Allison said. "These animals are our kids and when you see them hurt you can't imagine the intense pain she had to be in."
Dr Leonardo Baez said he had never seen such a horrific porcupine attack against a pet before. "This was one of the worst cases," he told reporters. "I've seen some greyhounds and bird dogs come in contact with them, but it's not very often it happens, especially here in the city."
Shiloh after and before the operation to remove the quills.
A second attack happened just days later reported Oklahoma City's AEC, after they admitted a terrier named Shiloh. Veterinarian Dr Hart and his staff had to remove hundreds of quills from the dog's body after he was believed to have sniffed around a porcupine.
Both dogs are doing just fine following their ordeal.
Source: New York Daily News; The Daily Mail
In Colorado, USA, a dog owner who abandoned his German Shepherd on a mountain told the local Denver TV news that he wanted his Missy back from the people who rescued her.
Anthony Ortolani, 29, said that he was forced to leave Missy on a rocky saw tooth between Mount Bierstadt and Mount Evans when a storm broke. He said Missy's paws were cut up from walking on the sharp rocks and she couldn't carry on, but that he first had to take care of a younger hiker who was with him.
"I was overwhelmed with the loss and the decision to leave her there," he posted on the animal lovers website 14ers.com. He said that he suffered from blisters on his feet and couldn't carry Missy down. Ortolani also said he was ashamed that he did nothing for over a week to save his pet.
Clear Creek County Sheriff Sgt Rick Safe told ABC News, "The dog was basically abandoned up there. [Ortolani] made no initial attempt. After three days, he thought the dog was deceased so he made no attempts to reclaim the dog."
But after eight days in the cold, Missy was rescued by a group of eight hikers who braved a snowstorm to bring back the 45kg dog in a large backpack.
Group leader Scott Washburn said he and his wife chanced upon Missy when they were scaling the mountain. Because Missy was too weak to move when they found her, they patched her wounds and left her with some water as they went in search of help.
"We understand that [Ortolani] had to leave her there," Washburn told reporters. "My wife and I did the same thing. But we ended up going back for her [the same night], and we went to some pretty extreme lengths to do so. In my opinion, that is not a responsible dog owner, who doesn't really care about her."
Washburn and his wife, as well as other members of the rescue team, now want to adopt Missy. But Ortolani says that Missy belongs to him and apologised for taking her on the dangerous trail and that he wants her back. A custody battle is now being waged between the two parties, but online petitioners are clearly siding with the Washburns.
Source: Agencies; Scott Washburn
In Nanjing, China, a man who left his Siberian Husky to guard his car while he went out drinking with his friends came back to find the dog sleeping—while his car was broken into and all his valuables stolen.
The dog's owner, Duan, parked his car by the curb after failing to find a spot in the parking lot and headed to the neighbourhood pub. When he returned for the car the next morning, however, the windows were smashed and his cigarette box, his mobile phone and his GPS navigator were all gone.
"There have been times when my car was broken into when I parked outside. So this time I kept my dog in the car hoping he would scare the thieves," Duan said.
But after finding his pet sleeping on the job, a frustrated Duan proceeded to reprimand the animal. "You useless damn thing! All my stuff has been stolen and you're sleeping!" he scolded, according to local reports. Not that the dog seemed to mind—he continued to nap as Duan gave his statement to the cops.
After calming down, Duan said he was relieved about one thing: "At least the thief didn't take the dog." Apparently, the husky cost Duan RM1,500 to own.
Source: Yangtze Evening News
Published: 12th September 2012
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