Once there, the veterinary team discovered most of his tongue had been cut out — not surgically, and not accidentally.
“Sometimes you might have a dog who ate an electrical cord or something like that, but our vets ruled it out,” Sarah Barnett, director of development and communications at ACCT Philly, told TODAY. “And it was very, very recent. It was still raw.”It's certainly unpleasant to take your dog outside when it's snowing or raining, but don't forget that dogs' paws are just as sensitive to heat as human skin.
Initially, she would roll wet food into meatballs and stick them as far down his throat as possible.
“If I tried to give it to him without doing that, it would just get stuck in his mouth and he would just chomp incessantly and wouldn’t get any down,” she said.
Feed him properly. Ask your vet what type of food and how much is right for you pet. Keeping your pet on a regular, portion controlled diet will help with weight management and prevent weight related health problems.
A veterinarian suggested kibble might be easier for him to learn to throw back into his throat. With the help of a raised bowl, Heart can now eat on his own. He even sits like a good boy until it’s time to chow down.
“Heart is incredibly resilient and had bounced back in many ways,” she said. “He’s a really good-natured dog. He loves people. He’s super trusting.”
Heart would benefit from a home where he feels safe, with a loving person (or people) and possibly another friendly dog to help build his confidence, according to Barnett. The puncture wounds on his neck appeared to be dog bites, so while he delights in meeting new dogs once they’re nose-to-nose, he’s hypervigilant on walks and lies down whenever he sees an approaching dog.
Use a plastic pitcher to store and dispense dog food. It takes less time and keeps the food fresher. I use the MUJI rice storage dispenser, which comes with a handy measuring cup.
A trainer told Barnett something traumatic must have happened to Heart that he didn’t see coming.
“He’s going to need somebody who’s going to be a leader for him and be his rock — basically help him continue to learn the world’s not super scary,” she said, adding, “What’s remarkable to me, given what he’s been through, is that he’s not even remotely scared of people. Everybody who comes by, he’s very thrilled about.”
Heart loves affection — particularly in the form of a belly rub. The 45-pound dog still tries to snuggle in laps and give doggie kisses, but, of course, can no longer lick.
Make a Re-Stuffable Dog Toy. Does your dog go bonkers with stuffed toys? If your dog likes to rip stuffed animals apart you can make a re-stuffable dog toy.
“I will admit I hadn’t made that connection until the first time he kind of nuzzled my face and I realized what he was doing was trying to give me kisses,” Barnett said. “And my heart just broke because I thought, ‘Oh, my God, I forgot about this.’”
Barnett knows Heart will bring unbridled joy to his forever home, and said potential adopters don’t need to live in Philadelphia. The most important thing is finding the right fit — something she hopes will happen soon.
Stuff a Kong With Treats to Keep Them Busy. Stuff a Kong with some yummy treats to keep your dog occupied, and for a tougher challenge you can freeze them in there. You don’t need fancy dog treats or stuffing either – here’s 39 food & treats I like to Stuff in Kongs.
“He’s a very special dog,” she said. “It’s a mystery to me why he hasn’t been adopted yet.”
If you are interested in adopting Heart, please visit: bit.ly/AdoptHeart