Senior German shepherd with health issues due to bad breeding is abandoned alone in a park
When breeding dogs the desirable goal is to produce the specific traits, qualities, and characteristics that you want. A responsible breeder keeps the health and genetics of the dogs they breed in mind, usually producing animals that do not display some of the health problems associated with the breed. On the other side of the coin, unethical breeders do not even consider these traits when breeding dogs.
Workers at Hope For Paws, an animal rescue that helps animals that are found suffering on the streets or in the wild, was contacted about a German shepherd that had been dumped in the park. Upon arriving, it was determined that he was suffering from a range of health issues associated with bad breeding.
Volunteers find Grizzly lying amongst the trash at the park
As volunteers JoAnn and Katie arrived, they found the dog, which they named Grizzly, lying amongst the trash littering the park. As they approached, Grizzly came out to greet them. He seemed to be in a good mood and was glad to see the workers. JoAnn and Katie figured he had been abandoned by his previous owners, maybe due to the numerous health issues he exhibited.
Grizzly is found to have several health issues
According to the locals, Grizzly had been in the park for a little over a week. A senior dog, it was discovered that he suffered from arthritis and spondylosis, a degenerative condition of the spine. Dogs that suffer from spondylosis do not always show outward symptoms of the condition. It can result in stiffness, pain, and discomfort in the affected animal, most often exhibited through a limp.
Grizzly is taken to the local animal hospital
Having no microchip, there was little chance of finding his previous owner. Instead, Grizzly was taken to the animal hospital where he got a checkup and a bath. While getting his checkup, it was determined that Grizzly also suffered from chronic ear infections and he was given an antibiotic for that problem as well. Now, The Lovejoy Foundation is hoping to find a loving home for Grizzly to spend his remaining days in.
Common German shepherd health problems
Even without bad breeding practices, German shepherds have their own set of health problems that the breed has to deal with. Some of the more common health issues associated with the German shepherd breed include hip and elbow dysplasia, epilepsy, diabetes, cataracts, and degenerative disc disease, among other issues.
Health problems from bad breeding
The biggest issue with bad breeding practices lies in the fact that for a health issue to be present, both parents must have the damaged gene. Otherwise, the dog usually won’t have the condition and will be a carrier only. With breeders, purebreds are commonly used that have genetically similar makeups. This increases the chances of both parents having the defective gene and passing it on to their offspring.
The Lovejoy Foundation
The Lovejoy Foundation, founded by Erin Lovejoy, has been in operation since 2010. The organization seeks to rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome stray and abandoned animals. To date, The Lovejoy Foundation has helped over 8,000 dogs. For more on this wonderful organization, visit their Website.
Here is the video of JoAnn and Katie arriving at the park to help Grizzly.
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