*Warning: The image below may cause distress to some readers, particularly small humans.**
Meet Manny, a four-year-old mutt who loves living in Buffalo. On March 21st, he was brought in from Cartagena, Colombia, to meet his new pet parent, according to post.bark.co.
But first, the poor dog was tormented and nearly died on a beach thousands of miles away from Upstate New York, in the scorching heat.
The following is the account of his pan-American rescue:
Maureen Cattieu, the founder of the charity rescue group Cartagena Paws, came upon Manny on a beach in Cartagena a few months ago. The dog’s face had been scalded with hot cooking oil, he’d been sliced with a machete, and he’d been left for dead. Cattieu rushed Manny to the vet and provided him with the care he required to heal. He did, however, require a “furever” home.
Anne Darmstedter stepped in to help. Cattieu and Darmstedter have mutual friends from Buffalo-area rescue organizations, but they didn’t meet until last year at a Christmas gathering. Darmstedter then spotted a mutual friend’s Facebook post about Manny. She was completely sucked in.
According to The Buffalo News, she said:
“I read his story and was completely engrossed in it. It’s just awful that humans can be so cruel to animals.”
Darmstedter, who already has two dogs, left a remark six weeks ago expressing her desire to adopt Manny. Cattieu was introduced to her by a friend, and the adoption procedure was started. Darmstedter mailed Manny a doggie bed as she waited for him to arrive in Buffalo.
Manny took more than two days to arrive to Darmstedter once the adoption process was completed. He was flown from Cartagena to Bogota on Saturday. He flew from Texas to Newark, New Jersey, on Sunday. He was happy and secure in Buffalo by Monday night.
Manny isn’t the only dog Cartagena Paws has saved. After seeing many cases of animal cruelty and mistreatment toward homeless pets, Cattieu says she created the charity. If you’re able, please consider donating to their cause, and if you’re interested in saving one of their street pups, please visit stray pups.
