Neglected Dog Sprayed in Eyes with Air Freshener to Stop His Barking Finally Gets the Love He Deserves

A tiny dog went from healthy to ravaged in under a year because of the abusive treatment he allegedly received at the hands of his former owner. But days after being saved by Sunflower Sanctuary Animal Rescue in Tijeras, New Mexico, Buster has shown a remarkable turnaround.

Sunflower Sanctuary Animal Rescue’s founder Cynthia Dares revealed on Facebook how Buster came to her desperate for food and water. She also says his owner inflicted punishments that resulted in his eye needing to be removed. He also suffered neglect that lead to him having difficulty walking and peeing.

“Little Buster (renamed) has been thru hell in the last year,” wrote Sunflower Sanctuary Animal Rescue of the pup they took into their charge on June 24, 2021. “He came into the home of a woman in good health and a handsome little boy. He was rescued and came into our home as a kicked, abused, neglected, starved, not given water for 14 hours at a time from the moment he arrived. He only weighs 10.4 lbs, a tiny little thing. ”

They continued, “His eye will be removed after having Febreze sprayed in it because he barked. Hopefully his other eye will last a little longer. His paws were so bad he could hardly walk. The nails were growing over each other and into his skin. Under his belly the mats were soaked with his urine and he could hardly pee pee.”

Since their initial post, Buster has had  a successful eye surgery, Buster has also been groomed to remove the stickers from his paws and mats all over his body.

Dare said she intends to file charges of abuse and KOB4 News reported that Valencia County Animal Control is investigating the allegations of abuse.

According to Sunflower Sanctuary Animal Rescue, the woman allegedly responsible for Buster’s abuse was previously charged with animal abuse back in 2008. They wrote on Facebook:

“…the worst part of all this woman was charged with similar abuse in 2008 to a puppy that she just got. He was bigger than tiny little Buster, She was slapped on the wrist even though there was video of the abuse, community service 100 hrs, probation and couldn’t own a dog while on probation and around $600 fine paid to the rescue that was taking care of him.”

Sadly, it appears no lesson was learned and Buster suffered because of it. Regardless of any potential criminal case in the future, the most important thing is that Buster is now safe and being well cared.

“A couple days of love and belly rubs and food and water and just a lot of care, he’s totally a different dog,” Dares told KOB4 News.

He will be with Dares and her other rescue dogs for the rest of his days as her sanctuary is a hospice rescue.  Dares explains that the animals she rescues “stay here until they are ready for the Rainbow Bridge.”

To support Sunflower Sanctuary Animal Rescue and the old dogs they take care of visit their Facebook page.