MSPCA-Angell Caring for “Piglet,” Who Survived Alone and Frightened in Forest
BOSTON, March 24, 2016 – A frightened but friendly Chihuahua is lucky to be alive after a good Samaritan found her cowering beneath a blanket in the dense woods near Spring Pond in Peabody, Mass. and rushed her to the MSPCA-Angell in Boston, the organization announced today.
That good Samaritan, Tom Osborne of Lynn, stumbled across the dog on March 13 while out for an afternoon walk. “She was wrapped in the blanket and just so scared,” said Osborne. “I couldn’t get close to her at first so I sat down on the ground and waited for her to relax. Despite the warm temperatures she was shaking uncontrollably—likely because she was so frightened.”
Osborne wrapped the dog in his coat, carried her to his truck and drove her to the MSPCA. “I’m so glad she’s now safe and warm and will get the medical care she needs,” he said. “If any dog deserves a second chance it would be her.”
Coincidentally, Osborne was the second person to come across Piglet while in the woods. A Facebook posted dated the same day at 11:40 a.m. revealed that someone else had discovered her but, unable to get close, left a blanket in hopes of providing warmth and comfort.
Abandoned with no ID Collar, Microchip
The dog—who MSPCA staffers have named “Piglet” after her namesake from “Winnie-the-Pooh”—is between five and seven years old and was possibly abandoned due to the visible hernia protruding from her belly, which will require surgery to repair. Finding her previous owner is all but impossible, given that she had no ID tags or microchip.
MSPCA-Angell Adoption Center Manager Alyssa Krieger is grateful that Piglet is now in safe hands. “It’s impossible to know how long she was in the woods, but she could have easily succumbed to exposure or been taken by a predator, particularly given her comprised condition,” she said. “She’s very lucky that Tom took the time to gain her trust and bring her to safety.”
Piglet’s bilateral inguinal hernia was diagnosed via ultrasound at the MSPCA’s Angell Animal Medical Center. Surgeons will operate the week of March 28 and she is expected to be placed for adoption shortly after.
“Given all she’s been through we’re going to prioritize a quiet and very safe home for her,” said Krieger.
Piglet’s surgery is expected to cost $1,000 and will be paid for by Spike’s Fund, a fund that pays the medical care costs of homeless animals in the MSPCA’s Boston adoption center. Readers interested in donating to Spike’s Fund can click here.
Interested adopters are encouraged to email adoption@mspca.org for more information about Piglet. General information about animal adoption at the MSPCA can be found here.
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The MSPCA-Angell is a national and international leader in animal protection and veterinary medicine and provides direct hands-on care for thousands of animals each year. Founded in 1868, it is the second-oldest humane society in the United States. Services include animal protection and adoption, advocacy, humane education, law enforcement, and world-class veterinary care. The MSPCA-Angell is a private, non-profit organization. It does not receive any government funding nor is it funded or operated by any national humane organization. The MSPCA-Angell relies solely on the support and contributions of individuals who care about animals. Please visit www.mspca.org.
