Shelter needs help with sick and abandoned pup
TAMARAC, Fla. (WSVN) -- A young pup at an animal shelter is in desperate need of medical treatment and some TLC.
With every shake Rusty loses more skin and fur and even bleeds. "It's a sad situation. He's suffering a great deal," said Allen Babcock Animal Rescue worker Cheryl Szary.
The 7-month-old will only continue to suffer if he doesn't get the help he needs right away to treat the lesions and scabs that cover his entire body. "He looked worse," said Szary. "This dog looks good compared to what he looked like. He was blood red. You could not tell where his skin was from where the blood was."
It's hard to imagine but true. Broward County officials picked up the abandoned pup on the side of the road on Sunrise Boulevard, near Interstate 95 on Wednesday.
The Allen Babcock Dog and Cat Rescue Shelter and the Animal Wellness Clinic of Tamarac teamed up to get this puppy back to normal. "This is sheer neglect," said Szary. "To let a dog get like this is terrible."
He has a common skin disease, called Demodectic Mange, which is easily treated when noticed early. Rusty's far beyond that point now. His body is so swollen and hairless, the vet can't tell what type of dog he is to begin with. "If you leave it untreated, it worsens, and he can possibly die from it," explained Dr. Darko Mladenovic.
Through all the pain, Rusty continues to wag his tail. He's still very friendly. "There is still a lot of life in him," said Mladenovic. "It's just gonna take time."
The doctor just needs the donations to make that happen, and, eventually, a foster home for this young pup.
To make a donation to help Rusty call 954-261-9522 or go to the Allen Babcock Animal Rescue website at www.babcockrescue.petfinder.com.
(Copyright 2008 by Sunbeam Television Corp. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
