When Claude was born earlier this year he looked just like every other puppy in the litter — big round eyes, a cute wet nose, and big floppy ears.
That was until someone brutally mutilated him and left him bleeding and injured in a box on an empty lot in Baltimore, Maryland.Rescuers found Claude and his litter along with two other dogs late last month. Upon further inspection, they saw that Claude was bleeding from the head. It didn't take long for them to realize why —
someone had cruelly cut off his ears, likely with something they found around the house. Claude was left with the faintest remnants of his once beautiful ears, severe tissue damage and infection.
On their Facebook page, BARCS — the rescue organization — wrote:
"When he hears an interesting sound, he attempts to tilt his head and move what is left of his ears, but only finds himself in more pain." It's likely that Claude's previous owner was attempting to crop his ears to give the dog a more fierce look desired by some bully dog owners.
Ear-cropping is purely for aesthetics, it serves no purpose and amounts to willfully mutilating a dog for purely selfish reasons. It often takes place in owners homes with makeshift tools and anesthetic kits bought on the internet. The practice can also cause lasting health problems for the canine.
Nine states, including Maryland, prohibit the practice unless done by a licensed veterinarian while the dog is under an anesthetic. Claude's procedure was clearly not done by a professional. The person who did this to Claude and abandoned him and his brothers and sisters to their fate needs to be found and prosecuted for animal cruelty. What is to stop them from finding other puppies and trying to do the same procedure again? In order to make sure no more dogs suffer this person must be taken off the streets and charged.
Tell the Baltimore Police Department that you want them to take Claude's case seriously. Sign the petition and tell them you want justice for Claude.
Photo credit: Facebook