Saving Diesel – A Bulldog’s Story

Saving-Diesel-A-Bulldogs-Story

There are thousands of pets and charities across the nation that need help with meeting their financial needs. When possible, VPI employees do what they can to assist these pets in need by making donations to their causes. A few examples of past donations include sponsoring a litter of puppies for Guide Dogs of America, helping pay medical bills for a severely neglected German shepherd named Courage, and helping Phoenix—a German shepherd that was used as a “bait dog” to train dogs for illegal fighting.

Diesel was born in June of 2010 to a breeder in the High Desert area of California, out of two AKC-registered bulldog parents. He was sold via the internet to a young couple who wanted a bulldog puppy as a second pet. It seems the couple did not take into consideration the responsibility of proper introduction and supervision of the new addition to the household as some time the around the first week of January of this year, while Diesel and the family’s other dog, six years his senior, were together unsupervised, they got into a fight. As a result, Diesel sustained injuries that include a broken jaw and several defensive puncture wounds under his two front arms, his forearms and around his neck. It was uncertain to as to whether it was the severity of his injuries or delayed and inadequate medical care, but Diesel’s wounds became severely infected. This led him to develop sepsis and fall gravely ill. Scared and lacking resources, his family surrendered him to Southern California Bulldog Rescue on his seventh month birthday. Due to the infections along Diesel’s underarms, one of his front legs was amputated. Diesel had a month of painful daily wet-to-dry bandage changes, rounds of antibiotics, and the near certain possibility of skin grafts to replace damaged sections along his forearms. A veterinary specialist said his broken jaw will heal in time without surgery.

Diesel went home with foster parents the week of February 1st. At the same time he was fitted with a front-end doggie wheelchair, which was donated by Illinois English Bulldog Rescue. For now his foster family is working with Diesel and his new-found fear of dogs.

Get more information about Southern California Bulldog Rescue at their website, and be sure to check out other pets in need of homes. The nonprofit can be reached at (714)612-0265.