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-Short Attention Span Theater-
Fido’s Peepee replaced by Weewee due to Frostbite
2004-03-27
Charlie, a boisterous 7-month-old Belgian Malinois, has changed quite a bit since Saturday. He is happier, heartier and now a girl. Charlie didn’t have much to say about his transformation, except bahroooooooh the result of what was basically a sex-change operation. But those who love him - including many Greeley residents who have never met him but donated money to his cause - thought it was for the better. The dog’s former owners had left him outside their Greeley home without proper shelter since he was about 10 weeks old, say animal shelter officials. Neighbors concerned about Charlie’s living conditions eventually persuaded his owners to hand him over to them, said Teresa Beckle, a spokeswoman for the Double J Pet Ranch in Greeley. Double J - a boarding kennel and no-kill shelter - first took Charlie in and helped raise awareness about his situation. Charlie lost part of his tail and an ear to continued exposure to subzero temperatures, and he was slightly malnourished. But the more serious injury was to his penis, which had suffered frostbite and infection.
Can you say OUCH!!!!
Greeley residents worried about Charlie’s plight, described in the Greeley Tribune, pitched in to fund the $1,800 operation. The kennel now wants to raise more money to help pay for follow-up visits for Charlie and to help other dogs rescued from abusive homes. Over the weekend, Rustgi performed the two-hour surgery. "It doesn’t look like it now, but he’s a pretty lucky dog," said Rustgi, who admits to pains of sympathy before the rare procedure. "We gave him a bunch of morphine," Rustgi said. "It just seemed like the right thing to do." Once Charlie recovers completely, he will be put up for adoption to a good home, said Beckle. "Through all of this, Charlie has just remained a sweetheart," Beckle said. "I just wish we could do to people what they sometimes do to animals." Greeley police are considering charging Charlie’s former owners with a crime, Beckle said.
Oh, oh, Mr. Kotter, I have a suggestion for a punishment.
Belgian Malinois look similar to German shepherds, are considered highly intelligent and are favored by police departments for their tracking abilities. Rustgi said he has done a similar procedure on cats and even performed open-heart surgery on a dog. But Charlie’s situation was unique. "This had to be done for him to have any quality of life," Rustgi said.
I guess he won’t need to be spayed; Bob Barker will be happy.
For now, Charlie wears an Elizabethan collar that stops him from licking where his balls used to be his wound. He’s also on medication to prevent infection and to help with the pain. Otherwise, he bounces around his kennel, licks the hands of strangers, and is adapting to his situation.
George Carlin once pointed out why dogs lick their privates - because they can.
"He’s just so darn active," Rustgi said. "You’d expect a dog that has gone through what he has would be just a little bit grumpy. But he’s not. He’s just been great." There are no plans yet to change his name to Charlene or Charlette, however. "That’s not up to me," Rustgi said.
The article also had a solicitation that I include because most of us do care about animals -- as long as they aren’t trying to kill us.
WANT TO CONTRIBUTE?
Anyone interested in contributing to The Charlie Fund should call 970-352-5330.
Rantburg: War, politix, terrorism, trans-gendered dogs... We have it all.
Posted by:Super Hose

#2  shouldn't that be Charlie's Peter Fund?
Naaa, that's gone forever...
Posted by: Old Patriot   2004-03-27 12:58:48 PM  

#1  shouldn't that be Charlie's Peter Fund?
Posted by: Frank G   2004-03-27 8:46:00 AM  

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