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Hawaii News Now – KGMB and KHNL
The owners of a Pit Bull, re-named Tuff Guy, claim that they simply forgot that they’d tied the dog to the bumper of their truck when they dragged him more than a mile and a half through Hawaii’s Sugar Beach. It is not yet clear if they will face charges for the dog’s horrible injuries, but Tuff Guy is lucky to be alive.
Good Samaritan, Chelsi Kalauokaaea and her boyfriend discovered the dog limping on the side of the road sometime after 7 P.M. Sunday evening. Kalauokaaea told Hawaii News Now that she could hardly bear to look at Tuff Guy due to the grievous extent of his wounds. She quickly contacted Dennis Burns of Valley Isle Animal Rescue who came and rushed Tuff Guy to Central Maui Animal Clinic for emergency treatment.
Tuff Guy was given his name by the staff of the veterinary clinic who are working to repair his injuries. He is doing well, but still has quite a long road to recovery. Burns told Hawaii News Now:
Skin scrapes – most of them on his feet – were down to the bone. His privates were ground down. He lost most of his skin on 60% of his right side.
When word of the shocking story reached the community, donations began to pour in to cover Tuff Guy’s veterinary bills, already in excess of $7,000. Donations have come from all over, said Kalauokaaea, who plans to adopt Tuff Guy once he has recovered:
It’s such an amazing thing that people from all over the place are donating. Texas, Florida, all over the U.S. donating to a dog they don’t know.
Burns and Kalauokaaea made heartfelt pleas to the community to keep their dogs inside of their vehicles when driving to avoid another tragic and preventable situation like Tuff Guy’s. They warned about securing dogs carefully in truck beds if they must ride there, and double checking that dogs are safe before starting the vehicle.
The Central Maui Animal Clinic posted an update on Tuff Guy’s condition to their Facebook page on January 28:
He is receiving fluids, antibiotics, pain medication, and many bandage changes while we see which of his wounds will heal properly on their own, and which may or may not need surgery, (or multiple surgeries)…This will be a long healing process, but he is getting LOTS of love from staff and veterinarians.
The clinic’s Facebook page also offered the following message for those wishing to pledge donations to Tuff Guy’s care:
You can call in donations to the clinic at 808-893-2380. 100% of the funds raised will go straight to Tuff Guy’s medical costs through Archer’s Angels. Mahalo!
H/T to Hawaii News Now
Featured Image via Central Maui Animal Clinic
