Earlier this week we posted on our social media channels about Max and the dangers of tethering your dog. Max was in his backyard on a tether Saturday when two dogs attacked him. He had no way to escape so he dropped onto his back submissively as the dogs mauled him. He came to Great Plains SPCA bleeding, unable to walk and with infection already spreading in his flesh.
Our Shelter Medicine team cleaned his wounds and quickly determined his right front “armpit” had to amputate due to the damage sustained. Removing the necrotic was vital for him to survive. Antibiotics and his body’s strength to fight the infection will be critical over the next couple of days.
WARNING: Some pictures are graphic in nature and are for educational purposes.
Newsweek reached out to us to learn more about Max and help spread awareness of the dangers of tethering your pet. Max’s situation was avoidable with the proper education. Read the full article at https://bit.ly/3hx4Fv9. We also have an educational guide on the dangers of tethering available.
Great Plains SPCA recommends:
• No animal should be on a tether for more than 30 minutes at a time and three hours in a day.
• Animals should have fresh water and shelter while on a tether.
• All animals should be supervised while on a tether.
Max still has a long road to recovery and is not out of the woods yet due to his infection. He is able to walk a bit but hasn’t had much of an appetite. Keeping him fed during this time is vital for his recovery. Our Shelter Medicine team informed us that his prognosis is trending in the right direction. We will be keeping a close eye on him in the coming days and weeks.
Max will eventually be available for adoption, once he heals and is medically cleared. If you would like to support Max and animals like him while they recover and wait for adoption, please consider donating.