Passionate animal lovers treat their pets as family members, so it’s a no-brainer that whenever they act strange or get sick, a trip to the clinic is a must. There is no excuse not to bring the ill creature to a veterinary hospital because, unlike humans, these creatures don’t have the same means to communicate that they aren’t well.
This is exactly what happened to a pet owner named Jane Augustine, who didn’t think twice about finding out what happened to her dog that she assumed had terrible bug bites. After bringing the animal to the expert, she was gutted to find out the gut-wrenching truth.
A Pet Lover As An Owner
Jane has a soft spot for animals. Having been raised by pet-loving parents, she knows the importance of being a voice for the voiceless. From a young age, she had been taught that these creatures’ lives aren’t any less than humans. She also understands how crucial it is to spread awareness of the growing abuse and cruelty toward them.
So naturally, Jane married a man who shares the same passion as her. Together, they live in Ohio, and it was natural for them to find a pet to help combat loneliness. She convinced him that they would adopt instead of buy.
Pros Of Adopting Vs. Buying Animals
At first, Jane and her husband contemplated buying a dog. They had a back-and-forth about the pros and cons of both sides, but they eventually concluded that it is more responsible to adopt a pet. After all, she strongly agrees and lives by the saying Adopt Don’t Shop.
Indeed, there are many advantages to adopting from a local shelter. One, it is ethically wiser to save an animal. Second, you’re not just helping one creature; you also get to save another because there would be another space for one in need. Third, there are many creatures to choose from and find a match for.
Finding A New Animal To Save
So Jane and her hubby went to visit a local animal shelter, where they met an English Mastiff. Once they bonded, the couple knew this was the one for them, and they called him Pancakes. A shy dog, the staff was surprised when the animal lit up once it saw the pair.
You see, Pancakes had a rough puppyhood. Found neglected by the side of the road, he was taken by a kind soul to the no-kill shelter. According to PETA, this refers to facilities that do not euthanize healthy, saved animals, which is why the shelters often get filled quickly.
Like A Baby
After learning about Pancakes’ awful history, Jane was more than willing to give him a new chance at a comfortable life. She knew she wanted to treat him like the baby of the house, what with the neglect he experienced when he was young. After all, the connection was almost instant for the couple and the animal.
As of 2022, the childbirth rate in the United States has noticeably diminished. According to The Guardian, the number of households with kids has dropped from 40 percent in 1970 to half the percentage in 2012. This shows that more couples are beginning to see the economic disadvantages of having kids.
New Home, New Life
Jane was keen on proving to Pancakes that he could trust them. So she did what most new pet parents do: buy tons of toys, spend a lot of time researching the best food, and give lots of treats.
As the owner, she was, of course, mindful of what she gave Pancakes. It isn’t unusual for pet owners to spoil their fur babies. According to The Spruce Pets, the average expenses for a single dog are around $1,500 to $9K, depending on the owner. A massive chunk of this goes to veterinary clinic check-ups followed by medications, vitamins, and supplements.
Comfortable House, Adjustment Phase
Because Pancakes came from the shelter where he stayed with many animals, he needed adjustment once he began living with Jane and her husband. The transition takes a lot of time and effort, so new owners must have patience in dealing with pets from facilities.
According to Puppy Leaks, there are ways to make this step easy, including letting them explore the house independently. Take things slowly during the first few days and give them enough space to see every nook of the home. Be prepared for diarrhea, too, since newly adopted dogs tend to have gastrointestinal issues due to stress.
Noticing Something Odd
A few months had passed, and Pancakes settled in quite nicely. It did help that Jane gave him a comfortable big bed days after they got him. Her husband’s effort to provide the animal with treats as positive rewards every time they bonded also aided in the transition.
One day, Jane noticed something odd about Pancakes. There were holes in his body that were too hard to miss. She inspected them closely and was convinced that these were bug bites. Signs of this include itchiness, hair loss, biting and chewing on the area, and reddish skin as a sign of irritation.
Possible Culprits
Jane thought that Pancakes possibly had tick bites. The infected black-legged variant can carry the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi, which then causes Lyme disease. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, symptoms include fever, sluggishness, lethargy, swollen lymph nodes, and lame joints.
Another possible reason that Jane had researched is due to botflies. This could be it because the photos on the internet somehow resembled what Pancakes had. These insects could have latched their eggs onto his body and found their way into the tissue. The worst part is that the owner might never know about this until the holes become visible.
Seeking Advice From The Experts
Still, Jane wasn’t convinced by her own research and decided to go pet shops to ask around. Whatever they would say, she was certain she would give them a try because she was so desperate. Upon arriving, the manager helped her with her dilemma, advising her to get a flea tablet.
These medicines often work instantly, while others take half an hour before they become effective. According to Chewy, these pills enter the bloodstream so that when the parasites feed on your pet, they will ingest the toxin. This chemical usually targets the parasites’ nervous system, killing the organism without harming the host.
Treating The Pet At Home
Once Jane bought the oral flea medicine and some bags of treats for Pancakes, she went home to give it to him pronto. Yes, she spent tons of money on the suggested items and gladly shelled out for them because that was how much she loved her dog.
After giving the drug, Jane took a good hour to observe how her pet would react. Unfortunately, she didn’t see any tick detaching from Pancakes’ body. She tried to deworm him for weeks, hoping that this would address the issue. According to Dog Express, this process is crucial for a canine’s overall gastrointestinal health.
Stressful Travel For Animals
At first thought, Jane wanted to bring Pancakes to the vet. However, knowing that her dog doesn’t do well with travel and going for long walks, she simply didn’t want to stress her pet even more. Not all dogs are born the same.
Some are fine traveling with their owners, while others can’t tolerate even the sound of the engine. Pancakes belonged to the latter category, so Jane was hesitant to bring him to the doctor. As per VCA Hospital, stressed dogs may exhibit restlessness, salivation, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Flying may be worse for some of them, so owners would sometimes opt to sedate them for travels.
Going To The Vet For Professional Help
Despite this, Jane became too anxious, knowing that the meds didn’t work. By now, she knew she had to bring Pancakes to the vet. There was no other way this could be resolved without a medical expert’s knowledge.
So she and her husband sacrificed their time and traveled with Pancakes to town. According to HomeoPet, owners can help distract their pets with their favorite toys. It also pays to talk to them in a calm manner and hold them frequently to make them feel secure. As with humans, classical music may also help them relax during long hours on the road.
The Vet’s Shocking Diagnosis
Once the couple and their pet arrived at the clinic, they waited for their turn as a few clients were scheduled before them. After an hour, they could finally see the veterinarian, whose eyes instantly widened upon the sight of Pancakes.
The expert asked many questions about the dog, including about his daily routine, diet, and unusual behavior. As per Petful, providing an animal’s medical history is crucial for an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan. After careful examination, the doctor could not hide his disbelief and was even speechless for a while. This had left Jane more worried than ever.
A Case Of Animal Cruelty
What could the vet know? The expert couldn’t utter a word and kept looking at Jane and the dog, leaving the owner wondering if she had done all she could for her pet. She questioned herself if she had been a good owner. Then, the doctor finally revealed that this resulted from animal cruelty.
Unlike violence against humans, animal cruelty cases don’t always get appropriately accounted for. There is a law protecting these voiceless creatures known as the Animal Cruelty Act, stating the penalty for violators. As for Jane, she had no clue where this was stemming from because she and her husband treated Pancakes right.
Harrowing Truth For Rescued Animals
The harrowing truth for many animals is that they are abused and neglected, but not all are saved. According to BVSPCA, there are 75 million dog pets in the United States, but the heartbreaking fact is that around ten million die yearly from cruelty.
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said that they receive around 50,000 reports of cruelty. The organization rescues approximately 100,000 animals a year, but about 30 percent are put to sleep simply because of overpopulation and lack of adopters. On the other hand, Pancakes was lucky to have found a forever home, but why was he suffering, too?
Cause Of The Holes
The vet initially thought that the owners were the ones who laid hands on Pancakes; after all, they admitted that they wouldn’t let their dog roam around their neighborhood unsupervised. But Jane maintained that she would never hurt him no matter the circumstance. Her husband also vowed that he was innocent.
Eventually, the expert explained that he believed that the holes were caused by BB bullets. According to Survival Freedom, these are rounder and smaller bullets as compared to pellets, which are cylindrical with cone tips. Jane was gutted and could not believe that this had happened to her precious pet.
Appropriate Treatment Plan
Jane couldn’t help but cry upon hearing this, and she continued to think about how Pancakes didn’t deserve this after going through so much when he was just a puppy. However, the silver lining was that no vital organ was hit. Although he expressed concern about the dog’s eyes, he re-examined them and said they would be fine.
The vet prescribed antibiotics to avoid secondary bacterial infection. He also instructed Jane to finish the course of the medicine even when the wounds started to dry up. As per Vet Voice, stopping the intake too early can cause the Acceleration of Antimicrobial Resistance.
Finding The Suspect
Before Jane and her husband left the clinic with Pancakes, the vet told them that the dog would recover well if the shooting would stop. The owners assured that they wouldn’t let this happen again and vowed they would find who had done this to their baby.
Jane was more than determined to catch the bad guy, so she began investigating. For weeks, she monitored Pancakes’ behavior and ensured she always had her eyes on him. She also used antimicrobial topical ointment for the wounds after cleaning them with saline solution, which helps contain the contamination and is best for lavage.
The Bad Guy
Jane was getting frustrated that she couldn’t find the culprit. There was no way she was letting this go, but after weeks of not finding a clue, she was beginning to become hopeless. That was until she saw tiny items in her neighbor’s backyard. These resembled the BB bullets that the doctor spoke about.
After peeping through their fence, she further saw a BB gun by the table. So Jane didn’t hesitate to talk to her neighbors, who then revealed that their son owned the gun. As it turned out, it was the boy who had been shooting their dog.
Law On Animal Cruelty
Because this was just a child, Jane couldn’t do anything but tell him that what he was doing was wrong. The boy’s parents were apologetic about their son’s behavior and promised that this would never happen again. Since then, the pet owner vowed that no one could ever hurt Pancakes again.
This story sheds light on the plight of helpless animals that couldn’t complain about their harrowing experiences nor point to the perpetrators of abuse. Luckily, the PACT (Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture) Act was signed in 2019 through a unanimous decision of the Senate and the House of Representatives, making cruelty a federal crime.