AUSTIN, Texas — Four dogs in Austin are recovering after an unexpected encounter with some porcupines earlier this week.
On Monday night, the dogs were transported from the Austin Animal Center to Austin Pets Alive! (APA!) after getting porcupine quills lodged inside of their noses and mouths.
The dogs, named Porky, Quilly, Herb and Tumbleweed, had more than 250 quills on their faces, but APA! was able to work to remove them all. Now, the pups are currently undergoing a recovery process and taking medication in the hopes of returning to full health.
"They've still got a couple weeks of treatment ahead of them to help them recover from their scary encounter," APA! clinic program senior manager Lauren Heymann said. "It costs $300 just to bring one of these pups through our doors and they will also need two weeks of medical care on top of that. The expenses add up."
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For those who are interested in helping, the shelter is currently asking for donations to cover the four dog's medical costs.
Donors can visit online and make a one-time payment of $50, $100, $500, $1,000 or a specific amount of their choosing. Interested in assisting in another way? Porky, Quilly, Herb and Tumbleweed are all looking for foster homes to temporarily look after them.
Potential fosters must take on a list of responsibilities including providing food and toys, exercise, transportation to free veterinary appointments and more.
An application must also be completed before being considered.
How common are porcupines in Texas?
In recent years, Texas Parks and Wildlife noted an increasing number of porcupines moving into the Central Texas area, particularly the Panhandle and the Hill Country.
These creatures typically stick to areas like trees, dens and caves, but they can sometimes be found in more unusual spots.
