Some of the images below are graphical. Scroll to the bottom to see what Gus looks like now!
When animal activist Rob Acuna and some friends saw a photo of a stray dog with a severely swollen head on Facebook, they knew they had to find and help it. For more than a year, the dog has roamed the area near an apartment complex in Southeast Houston and has endured unimaginable cruelty.
They searched the area where he was discovered for hours, and just as they were about to give up for the day, they noticed a stench in a small enclosed room behind a metal gate. As they were about to step in to investigate, the dog stepped out of the shadows.
His body looked thin and sickly, but his head swelled to an unnaturally large size. The dog was sly and with good reason – it was clear that the people he had met before were not kind. His rescuers managed to block the entrance to the room and put him in a cot. They named him Gus and brought him there Houston Rescue K-911 where he can get care.
Rescuers are often seen as cruel, but Gus’ appearance really broke their hearts. Not only did someone injure him, but for over a year, no one tried to help him until Rob and his friends came along. Anna Barbosa with Houston K-911 Rescue told KHOU:
“However in the long run, no one has done anything for him and he has reached that state.”
By a small miracle, Gus’ blood was fine and he miraculously recovered from his heartworm disease. But there’s more bad news than good. Veterinarians discovered that the shoelaces had been tied tight enough to embed themselves in his skin and must have been there for more than a year. They also found 25 bullets all over his body from someone firing at him with a shotgun.
The shoelace had been removed, but it left a large opening that encircled his entire neck. He was given time to rest before surgeons examined the wound to clean and assess the damage, but when they did, they found hard scar tissue near the major arteries in his neck. It can restrict blood flow. The surgeon felt it best to send him to a Texas A&M clinic to have the scar tissue removed by a specialist.
He came to the clinic and immediately went in for an evaluation and surgery. Doctors were able to remove about two-thirds of the scar tissue from his neck, but he started bleeding profusely and they felt the need for a blood transfusion and stopped surgery to ensure his safety.
Gus spent Labor Day weekend resting. Houston K-911 Rescue reports that he is now well-fed and in stable condition, but he has yet to see his final surgery. Doctors still need to remove the problematic scar tissue near his arteries.
Houston K-911 Rescue is optimistic on his behalf and is working to put him at ease. Perhaps for the first time Gus was cheered and treated kindly by everyone. He can rest and eat without pain, and has hope for his future. A rescue with steak and ice cream is planned for him when he is ready to return to the shelter, and he will be delighted to learn that a friend of his – a small stray has Keep him company at the apartment complex – was picked up last week by rescue!
Gus’ story was shared everywhere, donations and messages of love and support poured in. Follow KHOU.comMore than $8,000 has been donated to Gus’ care.
If you want to help support Gus, you can donate at houstonk911rescue.org. You can show your support for Gus by following his recovery at Gus’s Journey or Houston K-911 Rescue on Facebook.
Update 5/22/19:
It’s been 9 months since we shared this story, and Gus has come a long way! We knew he would get better, but we didn’t know he would be such a handsome guy!
Gus spent a few months with his sweet adoptive mother, but was eventually adopted by Houston K-911 Rescue founder, Anna Barboza! He has the happy family and spoiled life he should have always had!
H/T: KHOU.com
Featured photos: Houston Rescue K-911 / Facebook
