My name is Petey and I was used for Dog Fighting in Minnesota

My name is Petey and I was used for Dog Fighting in Minnesota

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My name is Petey! I’m about 2 years old and was a stray in the City of Minneapolis. When I arrived I had a lot of medical issues and those, along with being covered in ink, led staff to believe I was used as a bait dog in dog fighting. Regardless of my past, I’m a friendly boi and I love everyone I meet! I’m now with Pet Haven, Inc. of MN, and once I am all healed I’ll be up for adoption.

Petey came to the local shelter as a stray found wandering the streets.
We believe he was used as a bait dog since he is (literally) covered head to toe in bite wounds of all ages, and also had large ink marks used to id for bets and gambling. He is emaciated needed to be put on a slow feeding plan to safely gain weight again. Petey has a long road ahead but with our support and the love of his foster, this pup will leave the past behind and blossom!
Petey also walks with a limp; at the municipal shelter, the vet team’s x-rays confirm that nothing is broken. The inflammation from his many wounds is likely the cause of this.
Despite all the above, Petey LOVES every stranger he meets – dog and human alike.
He is constantly happy. He’s the embodiment of sunshine.  We really don’t deserve these creatures, do we…?
We, at Pet Haven, are honored to be the guardian of Petey and we promise his life will be full of only love and kindness from here on out. Petey will need to be neutered, have a 4DX test to determine if he is heartworm, lymes, and tick disease free, and he will need to finish his vaccinations. His blood work values are off due to his multiple injuries so those will need to be re-evaluated as he heals. Depending on whether the current round of meds clears up his ear infections, he may need more cytology + med appointments in the future. Petey will get the care he needs.
Due to the massive open wound behind his ear, he cannot be walked with a slip lead or a collar and will get a high-quality harness that is front clip and more cushioned so it doesn’t cause pain to his many bodily wounds and scabs.
Yet despite all this Petey is pure love.
Petey deserves a nice, plushy bed, he deserves the good life after what he’s likely been through, so why not sleep in comfort? We got him a high-quality therapeutic bed to take pressure off his joints. We also added some high-quality fish oil supplements to his food to help his skin; this will also be a huge help to his joints in the future since he was bred to have a proportionally large chest and shoulders (structurally hard on the joints). We started him on Hydrocortisone cream that has Vitamins E&B to help soothe and heal his scabs; he has dozens (hundreds) of them all over his body.
Even though Petey has been on crate rest with a plushy bed for his limp, it hasn’t improved his mobility at all so he was taken to one of our vet partners for evaluation. After examining the X-rays the shelter had done,  the veterinarian thinks his issue is likely torn muscles/ligaments in his shoulder and bicep areas.
The tears would be a result of the extensive bite wounds. She would like a specialist to confirm and determine whether this will be lifelong or whether he’ll have options to repair this. She prescribed him some carprofen (doggy aspirin) and man oh man does he seem to feel better but oh man his care will be costly and worth every penny!
Petey’s needs will not stop here, we will give him the care he needs and has so desperately needed for a long time. At Pet Haven our rescued pets are family and we treat them as such!
Once he’s healed, this 2-year-old 40lb (45-50lb target weight) bulldog mix ball of smiles and joy will be up for adoption and seeking a family that does NOT take pity on him and helps him move past his trauma to be the best Petey he can be.
If you have funds to help cover any of the above or contribute to his care or others like him, please consider a gift in honor of Petey. 
Thank you to the amazing team at Douglas Animal Hospital!
You can make a difference.
Petey will show the rest of the world that a ruff beginning does not equal a hopeless future.
The Horrific Truth About Dog Fighting
Dog Fighting is a horrific “sport” that is very active in the state of Minnesota. 57% of Americans believe it doesn’t happen in their community. Dog fighting happens in every state in our nation. It is hugely profitable for the parties involved. Fights can last for hours and bets can reach $100,000. Dogs are given highly addictive drugs to get them to engage in this activity. Many are taunted, drugged, and starved in order to trigger extreme survival instincts and encourage aggression. If you or anyone you know has any information that will lead to the freedom of dogs forced to fight, please reach out to your local police department. To find out more about Dog Fighting from the World Animal Foundation click HERE
10 Facts on Dog Fighting: