A New Jersey family lost their 9-year-old Pit Bull mix after his encounter with a porcupine left him with several pierced organs.
Deadly Late Night Encounter
According to WABC, Chester was outside for one last bathroom break before bedtime when the fight occurred.
One family member told the news station that she could hear him “crying.” When they saw him next, he was covered in quills. The family immediately took Chester to the vet.
“They removed as many as possible, but the fear now is that the remaining quills will begin to migrate into his body rather than out,” Kaitlyn Wunder, operator of the family’s GoFundMe, said on the page.
Chester fought for several days but eventually succumbed to the internal lacerations.
“It breaks our hearts to share that Chester has gained his wings. We would like to thank everyone so much for all the love and support we’ve received!” the family wrote on the GoFundMe.
Our heart breaks for Chester and his family. If you’d like to donate to help them repay his veterinary bills, click here.
Porcupines and Dogs
Porcupines pose a serious threat to some dogs. If a dog is territorial or enjoys hunting, they most likely won’t be able to tell that they shouldn’t go after a porcupine until it’s too late. Some dogs will continue to lash at the spiky animal, even though they’re getting hurt.
Unfortunately, porcupine quills are barbed. This means that the quill will only move further inside your dog despite attempts to remove it. Often, dog parents will attempt to remove the quills themselves and end up leaving pieces inside. It requires veterinary intervention — typically with anesthesia — to remove porcupine quills from a dog.
If your dog has an encounter with a porcupine, do not attempt to remove them yourself. Immediately take your dog to the vet.
