Rescue Dog Brutus Attacked by Porcupine
- Brutus the rescue dog encounters a porcupine and ends up with 1,500 quills in his face.
- The incident leaves Brutus with 7 quills in his left eye.
- Brutus, a two-year-old Staffordshire bull terrier, was found abandoned in a First Nation community near Edmonton, Canada.
A rescue puppy named Brutus has endured a harrowing ordeal after attempting to eat a porcupine in Alberta, resulting in the loss of one eye and 1,500 quills embedded in his face. The incident occurred on August 7, when Brutus encountered the porcupine, which defended itself by releasing its quills. Porcupines, known for their defensive mechanism, can have over 30,000 quills, and their spines can be fatal if not handled properly. The Paws Up Program (PUP), a local rescue organization, discovered Brutus in distress. Experts advise that porcupine quills should be removed by a veterinarian under sedation to ensure safe extraction. This incident is not isolated; in March, another dog, a black Labrador named Trooper, was rescued after a similar encounter, suffering from numerous quills lodged in his face. Brady, a volunteer with PUP, recounted the emotional moment he found Trooper, who was abandoned and in significant pain. "His sad eyes were telling me that he was in a ton of pain and discomfort," Brady said. After being rushed to an emergency vet, Trooper underwent surgery to remove the quills and has since found a loving new home, with the Winnipeg Humane Society praising him as an "absolute joy." Both cases highlight the dangers pets face in encounters with wildlife and the importance of prompt veterinary care in such emergencies.