Dog freed from chain embedded in his neck gets new life in Ohio. ‘See his happiness’
A small pup who lived a life of brutal pain has been given a fresh start — one that is filled with love and patience.
Bojangles was a 15-pound dog who had been the subject of neglect for most of his three years alive. He had been chained outside for so long, the heavy chain became embedded into his body.
“Slowly, the chain grew into his FLESH and half of the chain completely disappeared UNDER his skin, becoming part of his body,” the Jefferson County Humane Society in Wintersville, Ohio, said in a Dec. 20 Facebook post. “Can you imagine the shocking intense pain he must have suffered EVERY time that chain was moved, or anytime he tried to move further away from his tether?!”
Now, with a new lease on life and a new name, the pup has finally found a home — and justice.
“Finally, after a very long surgery, he was finally freed from his chain! Poor little guy still wouldn’t move his head because he was conditioned to learn that movement equals intense pain!” the shelter said in a March 6 update.
“He was left with a 4” deep and 5” long wound that took constant medical care to help him heal. With the help of his devoted team, his foster, and your donations, he is now able to enjoy life to the fullest in his new loving, forever home. His foster adopted him. It was not easy. It took quite some time for him to realize that he is safe and FREE from that awful chain!”
The dog, now named Frankie, was adopted by his fosters, a Jefferson County police officer and his wife, WTRF reported. Because his suffering was so heinous, it took time for Catherine and Jason Fabian to earn their new pup’s trust.
“I have to let him know that I’m not after him,” the couple said to WTRF. “I’m not going to hurt him. And I (built) that trust. And that effort that I have to put in every day gets shorter and shorter. But we’re getting there. Now, he loves both of us.”
The shelter has been keeping up with Frankie’s progress with his new life.
“Next week, we will do a full update on how he is doing and we will have more photos of him now because he doesn’t want you to only see his pain and sorrow- he wants you to see his happiness and how much he is loved now in his new home!” the shelter said.
Both the shelter and WTRF reported that the previous owners, siblings Albree and Trinten Springer pleaded no contest to cruelty of a companion animal and were found guilty.
Wintersville is about a 140-drive northeast of Columbus.