I was in my local shelter one day when a couple brought in two intact male bully-breed dogs. Both dogs were white, which made it easy to see how filthy they were – and to see their startling wounds. The larger, overweight dog had what may have started as a sunburn and developed into a dermatological condition. But the younger, smaller dog had truly ghastly wounds on his hind legs; it looked as if he had been tied up (or even hung) by ropes around his hind legs. Something had cut into his flesh all the way around each hind leg – but the wounds were not fresh. The wounds were partly scabbed, partly infected and raw, and the dog’s hair bore the traces of a purple over-the-counter “wound” spray. The legs were also swollen and the dog was limping on both legs.
I was discussing another matter with one of the shelter employees, and heard just bits of the conversation between the dogs’ owners and the counter staff. I heard the male owner say, “We were out of town for a day and he got caught in wire; he was caught when we got back.” My blood boiled; those wounds were neither fresh nor caused by a dog caught in wire.
Later, after the dogs were admitted to the shelter, I asked the front counter staff member about the dogs. She said that a county animal control officer received a tip about the dogs, investigated, and told the owners if they did not seek immediate veterinary attention, she was going to charge them with animal cruelty and neglect – or they could surrender the dogs. They said they couldn’t afford to treat the dogs, so they were surrendering them.
I borrowed a staffer’s camera so I could take pictures of the dogs. They kept trying to lick me through the cage bars, making it hard to get a good picture. With a kennel worker nearby to help me if need be, I entered the kennel – and both dogs gently bowled me over as they tried getting in my lap for petting and kisses. They were total sweethearts – which made me feel even worse for how poorly they had been treated.
Shelter workers see this again and again. Some of the sweetest, most patient, and overtly loving dogs come in with coats that are matted so severely, it’s as it they are wearing a suit of armor, or their skin full of birdshot pellets, or numerous broken bones.
Why is it that some of the nicest dogs are so badly treated by people? And how do they manage to stay friendly after such abuse and neglect?
Isn’t this true of humans as well? It’s the ones that don’t fight back that seem to be most abused. Easy prey for some humans who’s nature it is to abuse to feel empowered by what they do to others and animals.
It is because dogs (animals in general) are better than people!
I also hope both were adopted and were able to stay together. Can you let us know?
Dogs show us the heart of God because God is in their hearts. So humbling to be loved by them- what we give them seems so overshadowed by the love they give us.
because people suck and dogs are so canine, a quality we should all strive for. Bless them all.
There should be “mandatory” safe and comfortable conditions inspection done and a consultation for a person or people who go to a shelter to adopt an animal, to make sure they are of sound mind, common sense and have a general kindness analyzed, before they are allowed to “adopt” !!! There should also be a contract legally written to ensure that, if for whatever reason, they do not or can not provide or afford vet care and proper living conditions for their adopted pet, they will be 100 percent able to return the pet, without any questions asked!
My fantasy job: Kommandant of my huge concentration camp that I’d build for animal abusers and puppy mill owners. They would get…. special treatment. 😡😡😡
Nancy,
This breaks my heart ten ways from Sunday. I wish we could do to those people what they subject their dogs to. I don’t know why they are so forgiving, but we (humans in general, not good owners) aren’t worthy of that love and forgiveness they so readily give us, thats for sure!
Many will disagree with me but temperament is genetic. Did you ever accidentally step on a dog’s toe and it started licking you and showing submissive behavior as if it was apologizing for being in your way? Why do you think beagles are the breed of choice for painful laboratory experiments? They are mellow, nonaggressive, and are just the right size for easy handling. Yes, behavior can be modified through proper training and positive reinforcement, but pets (and people, I believe) are born with a fixed temperament. These horribly abused Pit Bulls seem to have beautiful temperaments, and hopefully, they will be placed in homes they well deserve.
I am in awe of shelter workers who deal with these cases day in day out. My heart breaks for these sweet pups and it enrages me to see the depth of cruelty people can sink to. All my dogs have been rescues, most pittie mixes and their ability to be loving after the abuses they have suffered are astounding.