Everyone like beautiful dogs… However, all dogs are lovely on the inside, and those who seem a bit different are as deserving of our affection. Some animal shelters have stated that “ugly” dogs are less often adopted and that they have had to convince adopters to look beyond superficial appearances.
One dog’s physical deformity forced his family to abandon him, unconcerned about what happened to him… However, some caring rescuers provided him with the attention and affection he need. Bjarni, a mixed-breed dog with a remarkable look, was taken up by animal control authorities in Huntsville, Texas in 2015.
Half of the dog’s nose and part of his lips were gone. His teeth were misaligned, and he had bite scars from being assaulted by another animal. He was having difficulty eating and breathing. Animal control was able to locate Bjarni’s owners… however, heartbreakingly, they didn’t care about getting their dog back, and allegedly abandoned him for d.e.a.d.
Bjarni was returned to the shelter with his family’s backs turned… Fortunately, several guardian angels intervened to provide the sick canine with the treatment he required.
Anne Graber, the founder of the Texas animal rescue group St. Francis’ Angels, heard about Bjarni’s tale and took him in, vowing to care for him until he was well enough to be adopted. Despite the dog’s disfigurements, Graber describes him as “vivacious and charming” despite his disfigurements.
Graber was determined to fix Bjarni’s face and sought for groups that could do the surgery. She discovered Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists’ Jason Balara, who consented to fix the dog’s nose. St. Francis’ Angels donated funds for medical expenses through their Facebook page. And people came through big time, with generous donors chipping in $5,100 for the surgery.
Bjarni’s face was rebuilt and his nose and sinus cavities realigned during the procedure. Graber stated that the surgery would not only make the dog “very cute and very adoptable,” but would also improve his health by making it easier for him to breathe and eat. And it was a huge success: Bjarni came out looking like a completely different dog.
Bjarni’s surgery gave him a new lease on life… He got a new family a few months later. Graber says she was happy to assist Bjarni because she knows how things could have turned out differently for him if he hadn’t received assistance.
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