Precious, a 5-legged Chihuahua puppy, has been spared from life as a Coney Island freak show exhibit, thanks to the generous efforts of Allyson Siegel.
Precious was born a month ago with a fifth leg. The extra appendage has six toes and protrudes from the puppy's stomach. It has no viable function, and drags when she walks.
Owner Calvin Owensby, of Gastonia, North Carolina, had a potential owner lined up for Precious, but scrapped plans for an actual home for her, which included an offer to have the extraneous leg fixed, in favor of a higher $3,000 offer from Coney Island freak show owner John Strong.
Strong’s offer would have put Precious on display with other such animal oddities as two-headed cows and snakes.
Owensby claims his acceptance of Strong’s offer was based on his current unemployment downturn.
Allyson Siegel, of Charlotte, North Carolina, heard about the impending fate of Precious, and offered Owensby $4,000 for Precious. She could not bear to see her sold to a show that features deformed animals.
Siegel has now taken custody of Precious, whom she has renamed Lilly. One of the owners of the NYC Veterinary Specialists on West 55th Street in New York was so touched by Precious/Lilly’s ordeal that he offered to remove the extra leg for free (a procedure that normally costs $2,000).
Surgery to remove the leg is scheduled in two weeks. Siegel, who has six cats, plans to give Lilly to her sister in Charlotte to raise.
To examiner further: Puppy saved from Coney freak show, Woman pays $4,000 to save puppy, Freak show a no-go
Comments
We need more people like Allyson Siegel...you have done such a wonderful thing. Lilly is so lucky to have such a kind, caring new mom.
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