Puppy with a mangled paw wants ‘nothing more than to be held,’ Ohio shelter says
A shelter in Ohio has a massive job ahead of itself, while its littlest newcomer has a long road of recovery ahead of him.
Bumble, a puppy approximately 5 months old, was brought in with a serious foot injury — so much so that it’s difficult to even look at photos of it, the Jefferson County Humane Society said in an Aug. 2 Facebook post.
See the Facebook post here. Warning: The post contains an image that might be upsetting for some.
“This darling 5-month-old puppy came to us with the worst mangled foot we have ever seen. He endured a horrifyingly painful tragedy that severed his toe, almost completely off from his delicate little foot,” the post said.
Unfortunately, that’s not all. The wound was so deep that the entire paw suffered from it, affecting his ligaments since it appeared as if something tried to rip “his paw from his leg.” The shelter believes that Bumble’s paw became entangled in an animal foot trap, normally used to clamp the legs of coyotes, the post said.
“Even in the midst of intense pain, he remained the sweetest little guy,” the post said.
“Upon his arrival at the shelter, we quickly took him to the medical emergency room. This little one lifted his adorable face to gaze at us with hopeful eyes, seemingly able to relax now that he knew he was safe in our caring hands.”
The shelter maintains that Bumble is safe and is undergoing around-the-clock medical care to try to save his foot.
“Wanting nothing more than to be held and comforted, we embraced and cuddled him even throughout his exam and X-rays. With his little head cradled ever so gently in the nook of my arm, I whispered to him that he IS a good boy. In reply, a hushed murmur escaped him, which was almost too much for my heart to bear,” the post said.
Currently, Bumble is undergoing laser appointments to help manage his pain, Brandi DeNoon-Damewood, the development manager of Jefferson County Humane Society, told McClatchy News.
“He is also on an antibiotic, and two pain management medications along with daily sugar wraps,” DeNoon-Damewood said. “He came in with (an) elevated temperature and slightly dehydrated, on top of the obvious. His gums were as white as could be — due to shock. Poor little fella lets us know when he is feeling extra pain by crying and whimpering, it is so incredibly sad to hear.”
DeNoon-Damewood also noted that it’s possible Bumble will be able to gain use of his paw in time.
The shelter is in Wintersville, about a 140-mile drive northeast from Columbus.
This story was originally published August 2, 2024 at 1:25 PM with the headline "Puppy with a mangled paw wants ‘nothing more than to be held,’ Ohio shelter says."