Nine-Month-Old Pit Bull Terrier “Bob” Looking for New Loving Home After Skewer Surgically Removed
BOSTON, Dec. 6, 2023 – A young, homeless puppy is recovering after a scary incident that highlights the importance of keeping pets safe this holiday season. Nine-month-old Bob was a seemingly normal dog when he arrived at the MSPCA-Angell on November 15, after he was surrendered by his owner to Boston Animal Control—but something was amiss.
“Bob’s previous owner mentioned that he had some kind of protrusion on his flank, but we couldn’t find anything when he first came to us,” said MSPCA-Angell Director of Adoption Centers and Programs, Mike Keiley. “After a couple weeks, it became clear Bob was in pain, but we weren’t sure why, so we brought him to Angell for imaging.”
The radiology team at Angell found the source of Bob’s pain—a wooden skewer commonly used in food preparation.
“It seems that Bob ate the skewer and it pierced his stomach—something that is usually immediately clear and requires urgent care,” Keiley explained. “But there are rare instances like this one where something small and sharp pierces the stomach wall, but the stomach wall then heals on its own, making the problem much harder to detect.”
“We don’t know when Bob actually ate the skewer, it could have been months ago,” he added. “But, we’re lucky we caught it when we did and had access to the technology and skilled doctors needed to save this homeless puppy.”
Owners Beware: Watch What Your Pets Eat!
“The holidays are a really hectic time for many,” expounded Keiley. “It’s not uncommon that our pets will get ahold of something they shouldn’t when we aren’t looking and, in many cases, including Bob’s, it can be really dangerous.”
“Bob’s story is also a great example of why it’s important that pet owners have insurance,” he added. “These things are impossible to predict and often really expensive.” More information on pet insurance may be found at mspca.org/petinsurance.
Veterinarians in the MSPCA’s Boston Adoption Center clinic collaborated with Angell doctors to surgically remove the skewer on December 1 and monitor Bob to ensure his recovery went smoothly.
“Bob’s been through a lot in the last week or so, but he’s been a sweet pup throughout the whole ordeal,” said Keiley. “We know he’ll be a wonderful pet for the right adopters, and we’re hoping he can find them as soon as possible.”
Interested adopters may submit an adoption inquiry at mspca.org/bostonadopt or visit open hours at the Boston Adoption Center, Tuesday through Sunday, noon to 3 p.m. Bob is not eligible in the Home for the Holidays adoptathon.
“This is also the time of year we really need all the support that we can get to help animals like Bob,” added Keiley. “To those who aren’t in a position to adopt or foster, we hope you consider donating to help ensure that we can be there for the next Bob and hundreds of other animals in need.”
The MSPCA asks that anyone able to donate do so at mspca.org/donate.
