Abused puppies prosper at Dubai home three months on

Hank Harrington with Bernie and Stumpy, the two new additions to the Harrington household. The puppies were found close to death in Dubai but are now flourishing. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National

DUBAI // Three months on from when two puppies were found dying from knife wounds on a roadside both are now thriving in their new home.

Bernie and Stumpy were found with wounded paws in Dubai in January and taken to Vienna Veterinary Clinic in Umm Suqeim for emergency treatment.

The expensive work included the amputation of Stumpy’s front-right leg, and was paid for by the animal rescue charity, 38 Smiles.

Finding new owners prepared to take on the pair proved difficult, as the ordeal left Stumpy unable to run and exercise like a normal dog. But Hank and Lynn Harrington answered the call and have been enjoying watching the two grow into the family at their home in Garhoud.

“They have settled very well and are generally good,” Mrs Harrington said. “We thought about changing their names but everyone knows them now. When we take them out, people stare at Stumpy and there are a few questions about what happened.

“When you give them a bit of love, you get it back in spades. There are so many animals here needing homes, I would encourage anyone to take in a stray before buying from a pet shop.”

The two youngsters have settled well into the household, alongside six cats and two other dogs. All were abandoned or strays.

Mr Harrington, a helicopter pilot with Dubai Air Wing, recently found a stray cat in an aircraft hangar with a mangled foot and marks on the back of his neck.

Since being given a new home at the Harringtons’, he has been transformed from a grumpy, scared animal into a laid-back cat happy to be part of the family.

It is not known if the two dogs are related but Mr Harrington said Bernie remains protective of Stumpy.

“When they first arrived they were glued at the hip,” he said.

“Even now Bernie is still very protective. Stumpy gets tired faster when he is out for a walk but he jumps in the pond and is up and down the garden – you wouldn’t think he only had three legs. He has learnt to live with his disability very quickly. They are puppies and love to play. It is good to see they are enjoying life and there seems to be no long-lasting ill-effects of their ordeal.”

To help 38 Smiles continue its work rescuing stray animals, or adopt an animal, visit www.38smiles.com.