A bizarre animal cruelty case in Oklahoma will hopefully have a happy ending for one abused pit bull pup found wandering alone in a Tulsa, Oklahoma parking lot two weeks ago.
Veterinarians now say the dog’s severe injuries were the result of his previous owner taping the animal’s muzzle shut.
Vaughan found the dog, a 10-month-old pit bull named Turk, wandering in the parking lot of a Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness. He appeared to be very emaciated, and had extensive gashes on his muzzle and face.
READ MORE: Quebec government advisory group not recommending pit bull ban: draft document
Veterinarians at Bent Arrow Veterinary in Tulsa believed someone had taped Turk’s muzzle shut, and he had suffered his injuries while removing the tape.
Vets also discovered Turk’s muzzle and mouth had begun to rot as a result of his mistreatment. They were forced to remove rotted tissue from muzzle, as well as a portion of his tongue.
They believe Turk may have been used as a “bait dog”: used to help train other pit bulls in dog fighting by essentially being a helpless target.
“I just teared up. I thought – how could anybody do anything [like this]?” Vaughan said. “The thing is, this dog is the sweetest dog. He hasn’t shown any aggression, he’s super affectionate.”
While he’s been through quite an ordeal, things appear to be looking up for Turk. For the past couple weeks he has been living with Vaughan and her family, and now he’ll be going up for adoption.
Anyone looking to adopt Turk, or just help out with his medical bills, can visit Animal rescue Tulsa’s website.
Comments