Meet Dutch: The Newfie Mix Without A Tongue

This is Dutch. 

Dutch is thought to be a Newfoundland/Pyrenees mix that was recently found roaming in a rural area of Oklahoma earlier this December. 

He’s a sweet boy that was extremely emaciated when found. 

His rescuer describes Dutch as a submissive young boy that appeared to have some sort of mouth injury. 

The woman that rescued Dutch quickly noticed that he was having trouble eating and drinking and upon further investigation, realized the unthinkable. 

Dutch was missing his tongue. 

It appeared as though Dutch’s tongue had recently been cut at the base. 

The area where the tongue had been removed appeared to be almost healed but the fact that someone would do this and then dump Dutch is cruelty at it’s worst. 

Thankfully, Dutch is in wonderful, caring hands. 

Newfoundhaven, a rescue organization that specializes in rescuing Newfoundlands and other big dogs in Oaklahoma, is supplying his care. 

The woman who found Dutch is fostering him and due to his condition and special needs, Dutch will remain with her and is not up for adoption. 

Dutch has received medical care for his injury and is learning how to eat and drink without a tongue. 

According to Newfoundhaven, Dutch uses his bottom jaw to scoop water and he is fed a mixture of wet food and softened kibble from a large spoon while sitting so that the food is easier for him to swallow. 

(Dutch will soon be getting a Bailey Chair. A Bailey Chair is a feeding station that allows a dog to sit upright while he eats)

While Dutch certainly isn’t out of the woods he is slowly gaining weight and enjoying being pampered by his caring foster mom. 

It’s amazing that Dutch didn’t bleed to death or get septic when his tongue was removed and he still has many challenges ahead.

Without being able to pant properly Dutch will risk overheating, aspirating from not being able to eat and drink properly and pneumonia. 

He also can’t do things as normal dogs do like give a kiss, lick the snow or clean himself. 

Why was Dutch’s tongue removed? 

No one may ever know for sure but it’s suspected that Dutch may have been a bait dog.

Oklahoma is well-known for having areas with large dog-fighting operations so it wouldn’t be unheard of if Dutch was intended to be used as a bait dog.

It’s believed that some bait dogs have their tongue removed because it’s considered “bad form” for a fighting dog to latch on to it during a fight. 

Since Dutch doesn’t appear to have a mean bone in his body he may have been dumped because he failed to perform well. 

If you would like to follow Dutch’s story or donate to his care, please visit Newfoundhaven on Facebook. 

He will need lifetime care and once again, Dutch is NOT available for adoption. 

Dutch’s story is tragic and shows us that cruelty to animals is still very alive today and that dog fighting has no breed discrimination. 

Thankfully, there are wonderful people out there that will care and love Dutch for the rest of his life.

They will give him the life that he deserved from the beginning. 

Let this also remind us why we treasure our beloved dogs so much. 

Dutch has no ill feelings towards people just a will to live in the present and to enjoy life unconditionally. 

Let’s spread this story far and wide so that Dutch’s story is known. 

All photos of Dutch here in this post belong to Newfoundhaven. 

Newfoundhaven Amazon Wishlist

 

Sharing is caring!