Pet parent Caroline Haug knew her rescue canine came with baggage, but what she discovered under the dog’s fur left her heartbroken.
Haug and her husband first started fostering Blossom when the dog was about 9 months old, she told Newsweek. Blossom, an American bulldog and boxer mix, had been in and out of foster homes. At one point, she was adopted but later returned because of littermate syndrome. Her previous owners thought it would be best to separate her and her sibling.
Haug said they picked Blossom to foster, then adopt, because of how scared she looked in her kennel. She would cower in the back, terrified of everything. Her ribs protruded as she was severely underweight.
While living with the Haugs, the owner noticed a lump in Blossom’s fur. She took the dog to the vet, as she thought it could’ve been a tumor. Haug said the vet confirmed it was a BB.
“I cried when I first discovered the BB,” she said.
All together, she said she discovered 15 BBs in Blossom scattered all around her body, but the location where she found one especially broke her heart.
She shared in a December 11 Instagram video, posted to the account @mymerrymutts, that one of the BB balls she found was lodged in Blossom’s mouth. It made her realize the dog’s abuser must’ve been very close to her.
Courtesy of Caroline Haug
Haug explained that the vet appointment revealed the BBs are not causing her any pain, which is why they have not been removed. However, if they ever did start causing pain, she would get surgery.
Haug believes the other puppies from Blossom’s litter might’ve received the same unfortunate fate. She noticed in old photos of the litter that multiple puppies had dot wounds. Plus, hearing from the new owners, those dogs have also been scared and skittish around humans.
For Blossom, it took about six months for her to become comfortable with Haug’s husband. She still does not like new people, but Haug said she’s come a long way. She’s “a lot more confident now.”
Haug credits the couple’s other dog, Gunnar, for helping Blossom come out of her shell and trust the owners.
Viewer Reactions
The Instagram clip reached over 355,000 views, 13,800 likes and 280 comments. Viewers felt horrible that Blossom went through that trauma, especially at such a young age.
“I’m glad she’s safe with you now,” one comment reads.
A second person wrote: “She can sleep safe with new dreams now.”
Another added: “Will never understand ppl! I’m so glad Blossom have you. She is so beautiful and her eyes are so expressive.”