Texas pup slips out after flooding, comes home with 521 porcupine quills

Honey, a dog in Kerrville, Texas, turned a short escape from home into a veterinary emergency.

Flood damage left her family's gate compromised, and after slipping out, she came back with a staggering 521 porcupine quills stuck in her face and body.

What happened?

The AWS Freeman-Fritts Animal Shelter & Clinic in Kerrville shared Honey's situation on Facebook, including an image of the pup with the quills lodged in her face. 

After floodwaters damaged the family's gate, one of Honey's owners attempted to repair it. Despite his best efforts, Honey (as well as another pet) was able to escape, leading her into trouble.

When Honey arrived at the clinic, it was immediately clear she had tangled with a porcupine, as quills covered her body.

Veterinarians were able to remove all 521 quills and treat Honey with help from donations through the shelter's Elsa Fund. Honey's owner then went back for the other dog to confirm that it did not also need treatment.

Why does it matter?

Natural disasters do not only damage homes and roads, but they can also create new dangers for pets. A broken gate, a downed fence, or a disrupted routine can be all it takes for an animal to wander into harm's way.

Often, interactions between people, pets, and wildlife can intensify when the spaces they share are disrupted. In this case, the encounter began with storm damage to a human-made barrier. 

When neighborhoods, pets, and wild animals overlap in stressed environments, risky encounters can become more likely. This growing tension has been explored in reporting on why wild animals attack.

Quill injuries can be extremely painful and may require urgent veterinary attention, which can quickly become expensive. In the aftermath of flooding or other severe weather, checking fences, gates, and outdoor enclosures can help keep a bad situation from getting worse.

Thankfully, the shelter said donations to the Elsa Fund made it possible for veterinary staff to provide Honey the care she needed.

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