Regardless of their appearance, all dogs should have the opportunity to find love and happiness. Some dogs have medical conditions that can initially make their appearance difficult to deal with, yet they nevertheless have incredibly kind hearts on the inside.
Thanks to his unwavering attitude and a group of committed rescuers, Phoenix, a stray dog who was left with a disfigurement so severe that people couldn’t believe it was real, has inspired thousands of people on his path to a better life.
A woman by the name of Carisa Ducharne rescued a stray puppy that was discovered in Collinsville, Oklahoma, in 2020. She was astounded by the dog’s state; for some reason, his face was badly deformed.
Carisa said to News on 6 that “he was skin and bones.” All of his ribs were visible, and he was so swollen that he was unable to close his eyelids. His face was extremely swollen and inflamed.
Phoenix, the dog’s name, was taken to the Skiatook Paws & Claws Animal Shelter.
People were shocked by what they saw when they posted his account on Facebook.
The shelter added, “We got a lot of backlash for sharing Phoenix’s photo.” “A lot of people believed that we had altered his photo.”
Though the cause of Phoenix’s ailment was unclear, it was all too real. Family Animal Medicine took care of him as they looked for the reason.
It’s reasonable to presume that his deformity resulted from maltreatment, considering how frequently dogs are mistreated. Although veterinarians didn’t rule that out, they started to believe that a medical condition was the real cause.
The shelter made sure Phoenix was comfortable as they looked at his health. Phoenix, in spite of his appearance, was content with his new life and was not in pain.
The veterinarians stated, “Phoenix is cozy and warm; his stomach is full, and he is receiving proper care.” “The scarring and disfigurement are not indicative of his quality of life, despite the fact that his appearance may be concerning.”
Phoenix’s life has completely changed as a result of the love and support he has gotten from the veterinarians and shelter staff. Social media users were thrilled to see Phoenix’s condition improving slowly after his story went viral.
“He’s only gotten better every day,” Carisa told News on 6.
Despite everything, Phoenix not only maintained a positive attitude but also served as an inspiration to others.
“People have reached out to say he has inspired them, whether they are burn victims, people with autoimmune diseases, or anyone else going through a difficult time,” Carisa added.
“Being a part of his story has been incredibly inspiring, and while it may not change the world, it changes his world.”
Phoenix saw several vets who specialize in skin conditions, and they put a lot of effort into figuring out what was causing the dog’s face deformity.
They determined that Phoenix had Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), a rare auto-immune disease, after ruling out all other options. With the diagnosis, they were able to control the illness at last.
However, everyone was aware that a large portion of his ailment would never go away. According to the rescue, Phoenix needed dog clothing and sunscreen to protect his skin, his “cheesy, sharky grin” would never go away, and his head muscles would never grow back.
Phoenix, however, was as positive as ever in spite of everything. “He’s put on a few pounds. According to the rescue, “his skin is healing.” He barks and plays. He plays tug-of-war and pursues balls. He even uses his own dog couch for sleeping.
Phoenix received a lot of requests for adoption, but it was difficult to place him because his treatment was still ongoing and the veterinarians had to give their approval first.
However, Phoenix was doing better than anyone could have ever guessed, so everyone was hoping for the best.
Unfortunately, the Skiatook Paws & Claws Animal Rescue broke some heartbreaking news in June 2020. They said Phoneix farewell on Instagram in a devastating post.
We released Phe last evening at approximately 5:00 p.m.
He left quietly. His mother and sisters kept him close, and he was surrounded by people who loved him. Dr. Gena was Phoenix’s soulmate, and she couldn’t have been more infatuated with him. He had her heart, and she had his. He was one of the fortunate ones who found their person, which is all a dog desires. For her and her daughters, not for himself, he hung on as long as he could. He told them it was time to leave because he was tired.
We are grateful to all of the rescues that made this wonderful dog’s life possible!Angel, rest in peace! 🥺😔
