It’s a miracle Falkor, the rescue dog, has survived, let alone thrived, after living a life of alleged torture and abuse. But that’s just what this heroic family pet is doing right now.
His hard life was filled with many excruciating injuries and may have included dog fighting. His path to recovery has been difficult, according to the Bull Arab mastiff’s rescuers Troy and Danielle (who preferred to only be identified by their first names).
Danielle discovered Falkor on their Sunshine Coast home’s back porch about three years ago. Danielle described their unexpected encounter as “a gigantic dog, but really emaciated and starved, he didn’t seem well at all.”
“I left some food out and announced that there was a dog nearby on the (Facebook) community board. “I assumed he could have ripped himself up on a fence,” the witness said, “until I noticed these large open tears on his underbelly and slashes and everything all over him.”
Falkor’s owners left a note for Danielle before she could take their visit to the 24-hour vet, and when they came to pick him up, the couple discovered his tragic past. They found out that Falkor had previously been trained to be a dog-fighting bait dog.
Danielle reports that he has just a few left back teeth from his extractions and that he was sliced off one ear. He wouldn’t attack someone and possesses no violent tendencies, however.
Falkor was claimed to have been adopted by new owners. But, after they became unable to care for him, he ended with their neighbors who later donated him to them. Falkor could have left, but instead, Danielle said, “he always came to our back deck and sat on the chairs waiting for us.”
Their pet was unknown to their family. She said that his perpetrators fled with him and two to three other dogs, which all entered a neighboring home.
The other dogs were attacking the farmer’s livestock, so he shot them. Falkor was not attacking the farmer’s livestock, according to the farmer, and he was instead staring up at him with his large brown eyes. Falkor was “covered with” slashes and burn marks when he was found on the property, north of the Sunshine Coast, according to Danielle. He weighed eight pounds.
She said that he was traumatized, and had no energy. He could not use the bathroom properly and couldn’t stand on his legs.
His parents claimed that he was kind despite his handicaps. Later, it was discovered that the tears were malignant solar sores. These were caused by prolonged sunlight exposure and being outside while chained.
Troy claimed that since they had saved him, they had spent $22,000 on Falkor’s medical procedures. He now weighs in at 35 kg and is a fully functional, service-dog.
Troy said that Danni slept three months on the couch in Troy’s living room after one of his procedures to aid him. “Due to his stomach, he is now limited to eating just Hill’s biome biscuits.”
They helped him adjust to his new lifestyle by taking him to the ocean for the first time. He spent approximately six months learning how to play. For approximately nine months, Troy said, “we didn’t hear him make a joyous bark or noise.”
We couldn’t leave him alone for longer than two minutes because of his anxiety. “It’s fairly amazing that he changed from that to being a service dog. He was a wonderful assistance dog trainer. Cats jump off the table and rub against him as we take him to the doctor”, Troy added.
People go by and just stop and ask if they may say “Hello” everywhere we go, and we carry him with us for some reason. The pair came to the conclusion that whether to adopt a dog from a shelter or a rescue should be decided on a case-by-case basis, depending on the requirements of the dogs and the rescuers’ abilities.
Troy explained that Bull Arab mastiffs have been a part of many online communities and are among the friendliest dogs Troy has ever met. “I want people to know that Bull Arab mastiffs are not scary dogs,” he added.
We think he is lucky to have us. But I believe we are blessed to have him.
Sunshine Coast News
