Bubbles needs a foster or permanent home

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Police called Animal Charity on Sunday to pick up a dog whose tongue had been cut out and teeth filed down that had wandered onto a porch of a home on Hillman Street on the city’s South Side.

Picked up about 4 p.m., the pit bull that Animal Charity has named Bubbles, “seems to know he is safe,” officials said.

According to Animal Charity’s Facebook page, the dog likely was a “bait dog” used to train other dogs to fight. At first, it was assumed Bubbles was a fight dog.

But then they noticed that when the dog was going from person-to-person to be petted and loved and his face touched theirs, he did not lick. That is when they discovered he had no tongue.

Mary Louk, president of Animal Charity, said the abuse appears to have been done some time ago because the wounds have been healed.

One of the remarkable things about Bubbles is that he has trained himself to drink without a tongue. Louk said he uses his teeth and jowls to drink.

“He’s adapted himself ... somehow he’s managed,” she said.

According to Animal Charity’s Facebook posting, Bubbles “seems to know that he is safe. We are hand- feeding him and are amazed at how he has learned to drink with no tongue.”

Animal Charity is asking that anybody with information about who owns Bubbles to email Animal Charity at acohumane@gmail.com.

Louk said it is hard to pinpoint an age for Bubbles until he is examined more thoroughly by a veterinarian this week, but she estimated he is between 1 and 5 years old.

Louk asked for donations of canned dog food for Bubbles – the chunky kind in gravy seems to be the easiest for him to eat – or cash donations to help care for him. She said all of Animal Charity’s operations are privately operated.

A foster and permanent home also are being sought for Bubbles.

But, Louk said, he will have to be the only dog in the home because of his injuries.

Also, Animal Charity said on Facebook that Bubbles will have some special needs for the rest of his life, the most important being that he is safe and loved. Those interested can contact Animal Charity at 330-788-1064.