Abandoned Puppy is on the Mend

Take a look at Wilson and it’s hard to distinguish him from any other puppy. He’s curious, likes to chew on things and is full of energy.

As it turns out, these are exactly the things that make Wilson special.

Only a few weeks ago as the abandoned puppy that was left for dead in a Holiday canal. The 6-week-old pit mix puppy had one ear removed by his previous owner and the other was severed.

Officials at Pasco County Animal Services figure the puppy’s previous owner tried to crop his ears, but botched the procedure.

“Essentially what people do is they try to crop ears on their own,” said John Malley, interim director of animal services. “It’s a surgical procedure, and it’s not something people should do in their backyard. They botched the procedure and simply threw the dog away hoping it would die.”

Wilson was rescued by animal control officers in late July after they received a tip about a dog floating in a canal. He was taken to animal services' Land O’ Lakes location and then transferred to the Suncoast Veterinary Care Center, where Dr. Deborah Sullivan took him under her wing. He not only suffered from injuries, but also had hypothermia and parvovirus, a potentially fatal condition, when he was brought in.

Only about a week after his ordeal, Sullivan was able to report that Wilson was doing much better and that his prognosis was quite good considering.

“(He’s) gotten through all of his infections,” Sullivan said. “Now he’s eating like crazy and playing like a normal puppy.”

Wilson still needs to undergo surgery to repair as much of the damage to his ears as possible. This, however, can wait until he’s a little bit bigger and a little bit stronger, she said.

“(I’ll) repair what I can when he goes under anesthesia when we neuter him,” she explained.

Wilson’s case is not the only one of its kind Sullivan has seen. She frequently takes on cases brought to her by Animal Services. Many of these animals have been abused, abandoned or neglected, she said. Her veterinary office also takes hardship cases from the community from time to time. The office does take donations to offset the costs of caring for animals like Wilson.

“We just have a passion to help,” Sullivan said. “I’m fortunate enough to have staff (members) that are so compassionate.”

Sullivan’s staff members even foster animals that have been left in the hospital’s care until homes can be found for them.

“We can’t save all the animals in the world, but we can save the animals that enter our world,” she said.

To help out with Wilson’s care or to make a donation toward other animals Suncoast cares for, mail checks to 20319 State Road 54, Lutz, FL, 33558. For more information, call 813-949-8899. The hospital maintains a busy everyday practice, but does take cases like Wilson’s to help out in the community.

“We try to do as much as we can,” Sullivan said.