The folks over at Animal Aid shelter in Oakland Park, Florida have seen a lot of things but they were pretty shocked when they arrived to the shelter one morning and found a birdcage outside their door.
That’s because there was a terrified scrawny pit bull inside.
And pit bulls aren’t small dogs so putting one inside a tiny cage like that is clearly abuse. It appeared that the dog had an owner who severely neglected it. According to The Dodo, this pretty pup was found with a severe case of demodex mange and covered in festering sores.
“This emaciated pit bull was crammed into a Birdcage that we had in front of our adoption center for sale. I don’t even know how they fit her through that little door. Even still she is in great spirits very happy,” they wrote on Facebook.
“She has been started on oral ivermectin for mange, and cephalexin for her skin infection, she was given a medicated bath. We also microchipped her and gave her vaccinations for distemper and parvo. She will be spayed and given a rabies vaccine when she is well enough.”
Once Animal Aid agreed to let Saving Sage Animal Rescue Foundation adopt Birdie, Vlasek picked her up that same day.
She then took Birdie for a full medical check-up.
It was there that she learned that Birdie was a 3-year-old dog with a dust mite allergy. It was also discovered that Birdie had a staph infection that required immediate medical attention. Vlasek concluded that Birdie’s health problems are the reason why she was abandoned.
“I would say that the reason the majority of people leave their dogs is because they can’t properly care for medical conditions,” Vlasek said. “For people who don’t have enough money, it can be almost overwhelming.”
But even so, Vlasek couldn’t fathom how someone could neglect such a loving animal.
“She’s always just so grateful and happy for attention and love,” Vlasek said.
“With that skin condition that she had before, she smelled really bad … so I assume that she was looked at as if she was gross. We didn’t really care — we loved her anyways. And we love her up and hug her, and she’s just so grateful to be with people, and have attention and to be with other dogs. So she’s pretty perfect.”
Birdie currently lives with her foster mom, Amanda Trainer, and is hoping to be placed in a forever home soon.
Until then, she is loving her new life as a healthy and loved dog.
“If she isn’t play-wrestling with my other pit bull, she is laying by my side. She is what I like to call a ‘velcro dog’ who does not like to be away from her humans. She is also very food-motivated and can be easily trained with positive reinforcement. She will be great pet for a family,” Trainer said.
