Tiny Dog Badly Hurt in Attack Shows He Has the Feisty Spirit Needed to Recover
A tiny dog suffering grave injuries is alive thanks to his fighting spirit and the heroic efforts of a team of animal rescuers in Houston, Texas.
When Lola’s Lucky Day received a plea for help to save Tony, they immediately sprung into action.
Samantha Zimmer, a foster coordinator with Lola’s Lucky Day, wrote in a Facebook post, “I texted my husband and told him to drop everything and go get that boy.”
Tony is believed to have been hurt by other dogs. The tiny black dog (only 6.5 pounds) is thought to have been “brutally attacked by a larger dog (or group of dogs), who pulled and stretched him apart like silly-putty,” Lola’s Lucky Day wrote on their Facebook page.
He was “spotted on the streets” of New Caney, Texas, by some Good Samaritans who couldn’t leave him on the side of the road so they brought him home and then reached out to Lola’s Lucky Day.
Zimmer’s husband rushed out to get Tony and bring him to Blue Pearl Animal Hospital nearby for emergency care. The dog had multiple puncture wounds and one of his back paws was torn off. His rescuers had no way of knowing how long ago he had been injured and laying in agony.
When Tony arrived at the hospital, he was severely dehydrated, in addition to all his injuries. Veterinarians had no choice but to amputate his injured leg.
Despite the terrible condition Tony was in Lola’s Lucky Day could tell he had the spark of life necessary to survive his ordeal. They anticipated his surgery would go well and he would recover quickly. “[T]his boy is going to be a fighter—and we plan to be right alongside him, each and every step of his recovery,” the animal rescue wrote.
But what they thought would be a dog with a simple medical case quickly turned into a complicated one. Giving him the care he needed would come with tremendous challenges. His medical bill climbed into the tens of thousands of dollars after vets discovered the poor dog had tetanus!
Tony left the ER a few weeks later and went to an experienced medical foster who could help give him the physical therapy he needed to regain his strength. He soon showed off what a feisty little fellow he is. In a video shared by his foster, Tony lets out some barks while he’s encouraged to walk.
The orthopaedic vet who operated on his leg said it is healing very well. But it would take 2 months recovery in a splint for Tony.
“He’s an incredible dog,” the group wrote of Tony. After rescuing him off the streets in March, Lola’s Lucky Day shared the wonderful news that he was adopted in July.
They said, “He is doing amazing. He leaves this weekend for his forever home!”
To support Lola’s Lucky Day with future rescues of dogs like Tony consider making a donation.
