This year has been full of funny and inspiring dogs, but there have also been dog stories that shocked and surprised us, or just plain left us scratching our heads. Even as dog lovers who work with canines on a daily basis, we found ourselves at a loss for words more than once over the past several months. Here are the most odd, absurd, and shocking dog stories of 2015.
1. Bulldog Vs. Bears
A five-year-old French Bulldog named Jewels was minding her own business on the porch in front of her home when two bear cubs crawled into her yard. The pup didn’t take too kindly to the cubs and gave chase. The bear cubs didn’t know what to make of the tiny, barking threat, but they didn’t stick around for long. They ran off and hopped the fence to get away. Jewels is one tough Frenchie.
2. Dennis The Dieting Dachshund
Dennis the Dachshund was in rough shape after living with an owner who fed him a diet of pizza and burgers. All in all he weighed well over 50 pounds when he was rescued, which is about the weight of five healthy dachshunds. His rescuers got Dennis back on track with regular diet and exercise, and the pup managed to shed 44 pounds. His before and after images shocked the internet and reminded us to leave the people food for people, not Wiener dogs.
3. Police Save A Dog From Flood Waters
Columbian police officers risked their lives by wading into a flooded river to scoop a drowning dog from the water. They managed to haul the hound to dry land and performed CPR to save its life. Thanks to the efforts of the officers, the pup managed to make a full recovery. They named him Principe–or Prince in English–and last we heard they were planning to adopt him as one of their own if an owner couldn’t be found. The video was terrifying, but we’re glad it had a happy ending.
4. Dog Recovers After Her Mouth Was Taped Shut
Caitlyn was only 15 months old when she was found with her mouth taped shut with electrical tape. The Staffordshire Bull Terrier mix was rescued from her owner, William Leonard Dodson, who had wound the tape so tightly around her muzzle that her tongue stuck out between her teeth and blood flow was cut off to areas of her face. But even more shocking than this brutal treatment is Caitlyn’s determination to recover. She’s looking much happier and healthier now, and the fact that she is still a sweet pup with trust for humans is beyond inspirational.
5. Service Dog Stops Self Harm
A woman with severe Asperger Syndrome posted a video of one of her depressive episodes that caused her to self harm. Samson, her service dog, alerted her to the attack and pushed her hands away with his paws and snout. Samson put his body between her arms, allowing her to hold him and gradually calm down as she pet him. The video is intense, but it shows us just how important the work of service animals can be.
6. Black Lab Eats Everything
Tiki the Labrador Retriever had a tummy ache, which would normally be nothing too serious. But when it started to get more severe she had to go to the vet for surgery. The cause of the stomach pains became clear right away. She had eaten eight pairs of underwear, 62 hair bands, four rubber bands, and a bandage. The hungry hound is now on a strict diet of actual food. Some dogs will eat just about anything.
7. Yorkie Fights Off Bigfoot
A man in North Carolina posted a video of his Yorkshire Terrier, Zippy, as he charged and barked at “Bigfoot,” the mythical hairy beast of legends. While we’re still a bit skeptical that this was Bigfoot and not some guy in a gorilla costume, we are pretty impressed with the little Yorkie’s determination to fend off the creature and protect his owner. Apparently Sasquatch isn’t a dog person. Who knew?
8. Three Pit Bulls Pulled From The Sewer
This story had us confounded. Three Pit Bulls were trapped behind a sewer grate in Florida. No one can say for sure how they got there, though it’s possible they entered the sewer through some manholes nearby. Firefighters and workers arrived on the scene and used the jaws of life to pry open the grate and haul the pups to safety. The dogs were fairly relaxed and seemed thankful to be above ground, but the rescue effort was really incredible.
9. Puppy Thrown Into A River To Die Recovers And Gets Adopted
This story broke our hearts. A homeless man brutally attacked a puppy and threw him into a river to die. The dog spent two days clinging to life on a potato sack before Hope For Paws arrived on the scene to help. They rescued the puppy, and after medical treatment, he recovered. The most shocking part of the story is how well he did after all of that. Despite missing a leg, Jordan, the puppy, loves to run, swim, and play and he’s found a forever home. You can even follow Jordan the Wonder Dog on Facebook. The fact that this pup still has trust and love for humans brings us to tears.
10. Acid Attack Dog Survives And Thrives
The news in southern California this year reported an outbreak of acid attacks on dogs, and the victims had huge, painful burns all along their backs. Who was doing it? Well the police later said the burns were severe sunburns, but lots of questions still remain. Despite all this, one of the survivors, a Golden Retriever name Fergus, has made a full recovery, and his story is being told on Facebook. The pictures of the happy pup bring us plenty of smiles to this day, and we couldn’t be more excited about his progress.
11. Dog With Mange Makes Incredible Transformation
When Animal Aid Unlimited rescued Mabel she had one of the worst cases of mange we’ve ever seen. She was also starving and dehydrated and needed an IV of fluids for four days. After two months of treatment, she looked like a completely new dog. She had a beautiful coat of fur and loved being around her human rescuers and the other dogs at the shelter. She went from dying street dog to happy, healthy pup. It’s amazing how far a little love and attention can go.
Which of these stories shocked you the most this year? Were there any other dog stories that surprised you in 2015 that aren’t on the list? Let us know in the comments below!
