Dozer

At just 10 weeks old, little Bulldog puppy Dozer had endured more pain and suffering than most dogs will experience in their entire lives. We first learned of Dozer’s situation back in September of 2023 after he was abandoned at a local Blue Pearl animal hospital by his owners. This poor baby was suffering from severe wounds to all four of his paws, his lips, and his chest. The owners told vet staff that Dozer had gotten into a bottle of Drano while he was locked in their bathroom, which resulted in chemical burns across his body. However, after a thorough examination and doing a bit of digging into the owners, we discovered a much more sinister series of events.

We were contacted by the animal hospital when it was clear Dozer’s owners had no intention of coming back for him. We agreed right away to assume responsibility for his care. Dozer’s assessment revealed that his wounds were far from accidental. This puppy was intentionally abused, so we began to gather as much information as we could about his past. We learned that Dozer was purchased from a local American Bulldog breeder by a couple using a bad check about two weeks before he was dumped at the vet. Both of his former owners have a history of drug abuse and criminal records. 

The police were made aware of the identities of Dozer’s abusers and were pursuing them in connection with Dozer’s injuries, his abandonment, and the owners' fraud. Our priority was to help Dozer heal. Dozer received extensive wound treatment and visited the vet every day to have his bandages changed. Despite having all four legs fully bandaged, Dozer still did his best to stay mobile. One of his paws sustained particularly gruesome damage, but we were determined to try and save his leg. We were fully committed to giving Dozer every chance at making a fresh start. 

Through the month of September, we continued to provide Dozer with care, including shuttling him to and from his daily vet appointments. We learned that this sweet boy loves cheese and kisses, never missing an opportunity for either. Every time we looked at his wounds our hearts would break, but we knew that Dozer was on his way to a brighter future. By the end of the month, Dozer was able to go bootless on three out of four paws. Now less at risk of becoming infected, it was important to give Dozer's wounds plenty of fresh air so they could continue to heal. 

Some days were worse than others. On the particularly bad days when Dozer was inconsolable, his foster mom always made sure he got a taste of a chicken nugget, one of his new favorite treats. The journey was long and difficult, and we could not have supported Dozer in healing without the generosity of the CUDDLY community. Now several months after coming into our care, Dozer has made an almost full recovery. One of his paws will be permanently deformed, but he currently spends three days a week wearing a splint to help him strengthen his foot. His toe pads on two other paws will be fused together, but Dozer has not let this slow him down. More importantly, Dozer is no longer in pain and has regained his independence now that he is fully mobile.

After everything we had been through together, it seemed practically impossible to imagine parting with this special little boy. However, when the perfect adopter came along wanting to take Dozer home, we could not have been more overjoyed. We said our tearful goodbyes, knowing we had accomplished exactly what we set out to do. We gave Dozer the second chance he deserved, and he would now spend the rest of his life in his new mom's loving embrace. Even more incredibly, Dozer and his mom have opened their home to other pups in need of a temporary place to rest their heads. Dozer has a permanent position as foster brother to all those seeking homes, and will serve as a symbol of the possibilities for happiness the future holds for them.