When rescuers first learned about two stray dogs in serious trouble, they knew they couldn’t wait.
The dogs had apparently encountered a porcupine—and the result was devastating.
By the time help arrived, both dogs had spent days with painful quills embedded in their bodies.
The injuries were so severe that eating and drinking had become difficult, and infections had already begun to develop.
The dogs, later given the names Miss Prickle Pants and Cactus Jackie, desperately needed medical attention.
Thankfully, a team of rescuers refused to look the other way.
A Race to Get Them Help
The urgent call for assistance came from another rescue organization that had learned about the dogs’ condition.
A transporter and shelter staff member immediately stepped in, bringing the dogs to safety late that night.
They arrived around 11 p.m. and were given pain medication before being taken to veterinary teams the following morning.
That’s when rescuers discovered just how serious the situation really was.
Miss Prickle Pants had quills covering her face, chest, legs, and even areas around her joints.
And there were a lot of them.
Veterinarians carefully sedated her and began removing the painful quills one by one.
When they finished, they had removed 561 quills from her body.
Yes, 561.
And there was still another dog waiting for help.
Cactus Jackie Needed Help, Too
Cactus Jackie had suffered a similarly painful fate.
Veterinarians discovered quills embedded in her face and inside her mouth. She was anesthetized so the veterinary team could safely remove them.
Another 112 quills were carefully extracted.
Together, the two dogs had endured an astonishing 673 quills.
But the number wasn’t the only concern.
The dogs had apparently gone days without being able to eat or drink properly. Their injuries had also allowed infections to develop.
Cactus Jackie was showing signs of early-stage cellulitis, while many of Miss Prickle Pants’ wounds were already infected.
For dogs who had been surviving on their own, their condition was frightening.
But finally, they were receiving the care they needed.
A Little Less Pain
After the procedures, the dogs were able to wake up with hundreds of painful quills finally gone.
There was still a long road ahead.
Veterinarians warned that additional quills could surface over the following weeks, meaning the dogs would need continued monitoring and care.
But they had already reached an important turning point.
For days, these two dogs had been struggling alone.
Now, people were fighting for them.
Their rescue required several people working together, including animal rescuers, transporters, shelter staff, and veterinary teams.
Nobody knew exactly how the dogs ended up in such a painful situation.
What mattered was that someone noticed.
Someone made the call.
And other people answered.
Their treatment was unexpected and expensive, but the rescuers chose to say yes anyway.
Miss Prickle Pants and Cactus Jackie still have healing ahead of them, but their story has already changed dramatically.
Instead of facing another painful night alone, they now have people watching over them.
And after having 673 quills removed, the simple ability to wake up feeling a little less pain is a victory worth celebrating.
