We don’t always think of animals being victims of domestic violence, but that is just what happened recently to four innocent puppies that were rushed to the KC Pet Project in Kansas City, MO. On a recent Saturday night, just as the vet tech team was winding down for the day, they received an urgent call for help.
Four tiny puppies, covered in latex paint, were in desperate need of assistance. The distressing situation began when the police responded to a domestic violence incident, where a man threatened harm to the helpless pups. Upon arrival, the officers found the puppies coated in paint.
The KC Pet Project works with a puppy that had been covered with latex paint. Photo by The KC Pet Project
“The officers had been called for a domestic violence incident after a man came into someone’s home and said he was going to hurt puppies who were there. When they arrived, he had already dumped a jug of latex paint all over the dogs,” said Tori Fugate, communications director for the rescue.
The acrylic resin in the paint had already started to dry, forming thick layers on the puppies’ fur by the time they had reached the shelter. With no safe alternative, the team faced the daunting task of removing the paint. After much discussion, they realized that their only option was to carefully shave the puppies’ fur, a process that required a lot of patience.
Fugate explained, “There was no safe way to remove the paint without chemicals, so we ended up having to shave them.” For hours, the dedicated team worked tirelessly to calm the frightened puppies and meticulously remove the paint and their fur. Despite their exhaustion, the puppies displayed remarkable resilience, eventually succumbing to sleep as they finally finished cleaning the puppies.
They were falling asleep near the end. They were so sweet and innocent,” Fugate said.
Fortunately, the paint caused no lasting harm to the puppies, she said. The puppies were then spayed and neutered in preparation for adoption. Their heartwarming story quickly captured the attention of the community, and adoption applications flooded in. Within days, all but one of the puppies found loving homes, where they could thrive and leave their traumatic past behind.
The KC Pet Project were brought four puppies that had been covered with latex paint. Photo by The KC Pet Project
“We got a ton of interest from people as soon as we posted about them online,” Fugate shared. “They’re just your regular happy and playful puppies now, aside from looking a little more pink since their hair is still so short.” For now, while they are healing, the puppies, are enjoying their new life at a foster home.
And in a nod to their artistic beginnings, they have been named after famous artists: Jackson Pollock, Frida Kahlo, Pablo Picasso and Banksy. While the circumstances surrounding the puppies’ ordeal remain unclear, the rescue is grateful to have provided them with the care and support they needed. And now, lucky families are going to benefit from the love and joy of these rescued pups. Watch below as the KC Pet Project talks about the puppies.