WARNING: Images may upset some readers
It was a sight that would make any dog lover shudder. On January 15, an eighteen-month-old silky terrier mix arrived at The Lost Dogs’ Home with what looked like a layer of flesh missing from around her middle.
“We think she may have been hit by a car,” Senior Veterinarian Dr Alan Bolton said. “The wound was a particularly nasty burn, probably caused by her rolling underneath the car and hitting the exhaust.”
Dubbed ‘Blossom’, the brave girl had been handed in as a stray to the Animal Accident and Emergency Centre in Essendon, where she was treated for shock and monitored overnight. Once it was clear she was in a stable condition, she was brought into the Home where her care continued under the supervision of Dr Bolton and his team.
“The wound covered her left ribcage and part of her back, and we could see that the flesh there was actually dying,” Dr Bolton said. “We monitored her for several days, in which time a lot of the flesh died and fell away.”
Assuming they would have to perform skin grafts on the little dog, Dr Bolton operated on Blossom, removing the excess skin, cleaning the wound and applying fresh bandages. However Blossom surprised them all with her healing powers during recovery.
“She recovered really well on her own and didn’t need the grafts, which was fantastic,” Dr Bolton said. “After about 10 days, the wound had shrunk down by quite a lot so we were able to just close it up and let her recuperate.”
It was a mighty hard start to life but Blossom has done as exactly what her name describes. She has flourished while in our care, demonstrating what a sweet and happy little dog she is. Already fur has grown over her wound, leaving nothing but a comical haircut behind as evidence of what happened to her.
“To think of the state she was in when she arrived compared with now… it’s almost like two different dogs,” General Manager Sue Conroy said. “We’re so pleased with how well she has done in her recovery and think she now deserves to find a home where she will be loved – and kept out of the way of traffic – for the rest of her life.”
Blossom is currently up for adoption and has been microchipped, desexed, vaccinated and given the all-clear by her vets. If you wish to adopt this beautiful and brave little girl, please call the North Melbourne shelter on 9329 2755 and quote Animal ID: 902134.
