From the first look, people could easily tell that Hooch has led a terrible life. The rescue dog had his ears shorn off, and he was so skinny. He was also very thirsty. His rescuers would try to give him water, but he couldn’t drink it.
This led them to check why he couldn’t do it. That’s when the shelter staff discovered that the poor pooch had suffered even more than they thought. When they checked inside his mouth, they discovered that his tongue had been cut from the base.
Everyone was shocked. They couldn’t believe that someone could be this heartless.
Nothing works
A nonprofit rescue group from Kerns County, California, named Marley’s Mutts, took Hooch from a local shelter. They saw that the poor dog needed extra care and treatment and would not last long without it.
They tried several ways to get the pooch to eat and drink. They tried putting a feeding tube down his neck, but Hooch would keep on tugging it out. They even placed him on a special chair where he would be propped up. They thought that this way, gravity can help pull his food down.
But none of it worked.
One veterinary technician tried a bold move. Trusting that the dog would not bite her, she reached her hand inside his mouth and dropped kibbles in it. Hooch would then raise his head and let gravity do the rest.
As for drinking, they got him a bucket of water, and the dog would submerge his head in it. He would just then suck the water in.
Helping others
One thing that amazed the rescue group’s staff was the dog’s personality. Despite all the abuse that he has gone through, he remained to be gentle and very loving. Without his tongue, he couldn’t give any kisses, but he loves to give hugs.
This prompted the group’s founder to adopt the sweet pooch and train him to become a therapy dog. Soon, he was visiting hospitals and schools. He would always have a goofy grin when people surrounded him.
When they learned his story, they were inspired by the way he went through it all and remained very positive and happy.
Source: Marley’s Mutts Dog Rescue via Facebook
